New research by VisitBritain indicates that Britain’s visitor economy has taken five years to recover to pre-2001 levels.

Based on available 2005 data, our visitor economy is worth around £85bn – £600m more than in 2000.

CEO Tom Wright said: “British tourism is in good health and reflects the visitor economy’s recovery from the double whammy of the foot and mouth outbreaks and 9/11.

“Subsequent years of slow growth were hit by SARS and the start of the second Gulf War, but a strong bounceback from 2004 was helped by the enlargement of Europe, leading to strong growth from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary and improved access to the UK from countries such as India.”