Some 36,000 fewer foreign visitors came to Devon and Cornwall in 2012, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed yesterday. But despite the drop, they actually spent £16 million more than in 2011.
Olympic bosses have always warned against 2012 being a bumper year for the domestic holiday industry against fears sports fans would displace visitors not interested in the Games.
They argued 2013 would be the first time to judge whether tourism had reaped Olympic dividends after showcasing the country the year earlier.
London enjoyed a clear economic uplift last year, however. Some 171,000 extra visitors were drawn to the capital in 2012, netting London an additional £663 million.
The ONS estimates 698,000 overseas residents visited the UK for the Games – the majority from Europe but also 83,000 visits from North America.
Devon attracted 388,000 overseas visitors last year, a fall of 37,000. But they spent £201 million – £17 million more than in 2011. Around 304,000 visitors came to Cornwall, up by just 1,000 year-on-year. But they spent £1 million less.
Around 10,000 fewer foreign tourists came to Plymouth last year, falling to 98,000 visitors – though spending was up £15 million. The same pattern occurred in Exeter, where overseas visitors fell by 4,000 to 74,000 – but spending was up by £12 million.
Of the Olympic effect, Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, said: "Visitors might have ventured on day trips to Bath or Stonehenge, but it was always going to be difficult to get them as far as Cornwall. We are more optimistic about the Rugby World Cup in 2015 given the Cornish diaspora in Australia and South Africa."
In 2012, overseas residents made 31.1 million visits to the UK – a 0.9% increase on the 2011 figure.
The "Great" campaign, Britain's biggest ever tourism marketing push, has spent £125 million of taxpayers' money and targeted cities from Beijing to Toronto.
Sandie Dawe, chief executive of VisitBritain, leading the campaign, said inbound tourism had achieved record results in "key markets".
She said: "Our campaigns are working and tourism has once again shown its ability to deliver growth, revenue and jobs across Britain."
Tourism Minister Hugh Robertson welcomed an "increase of inbound tourism from key markets such France and positive signs from emerging markets like China and the UAE".
