Research and data · 24 August 2026 · 3 minute read
The Office for National Statistics has published revised quarterly and annual 2024 travel and tourism estimates, following completion of new methods to combine data from its old and new International Passenger Survey designs. The release accompanies the Travel trends 2024 bulletin and marks the first full-year dataset under the revised survey methodology introduced in July 2024.
What the data release found
The August 2025 update outlines progress in developing new methods for travel and tourism statistics since June 2025. The ONS has completed developments to produce the annual 2024 datasets, combining data from old and new International Passenger Survey (IPS) designs. The work follows a statistical review that concluded in May 2022 with the Travel and tourism review final report.
Key numbers
- 2024 first full year with revised IPS methodology, per Office for National Statistics
- May 2022 when the Travel and tourism review concluded, triggering these changes
- July 2024 when new IPS design was introduced
The release includes revised quarterly estimates for Quarters 1 to 4 in 2024 alongside the new annual figures. Since June 2025, the ONS has continued to develop and quality assure its methods, and has investigated data quality issues reported in that earlier article. Users are advised to refer to guidance provided in Section 5: Data considerations for quarterly and annual 2024 estimates before using these figures.
This work was first outlined in the Improving our travel and tourism statistics article from July 2024, with progress updates published in February 2025 and June 2025.
Why it matters if you host
Revised methodology in official travel statistics affects how accurate the baseline figures are when you compare market forecasts to actual performance. If quarterly 2024 estimates have been adjusted under the new survey design, any year-on-year comparisons you make using 2024 as a reference point need to use the revised figures, not the originals published last year. The ONS caution about data quality means hosts should treat 2024 benchmarks carefully when setting expectations for seasonal occupancy or inbound visitor volumes.
The transition period between old and new IPS designs creates discontinuities in the time series. If you are tracking long-term trends in international arrivals or visitor spend to inform pricing strategy, be aware that 2024 sits at a methodological break point. The ONS itself has flagged this with specific user guidance, which suggests the figures require more careful interpretation than a standard annual release.
What to do this week
- Read Section 5 of the August 2025 ONS article if you use official travel statistics to benchmark your listing performance or justify pricing decisions to guests. The data considerations section will clarify which 2024 figures are directly comparable to earlier years and which are not.
- If you track year-on-year occupancy or revenue against published inbound visitor numbers, update your reference datasets to the revised quarterly 2024 estimates rather than the original releases. This ensures your comparisons reflect the ONS's latest methodology.
- Review any marketing copy or listing descriptions that cite official UK tourism statistics. If you quoted 2024 visitor figures published before August 2025, check whether the revised estimates materially change the claim you made.