Travel, Transport and Tourism
Travel is a fundamental part of our everyday lives. In 2018, transport consumed the highest proportion of our average weekly household spending, more than housing and fuels costs or spending on food and drink. Since 2010, in terms of employment, tourism has been the fastest growing sector in the UK. And increased public debate about issues such as active travel, air pollution and climate change, as well as rapidly changing technology, have started to change the way we travel – for example the increased interest in electric vehicles or the emergence of private hire services such as Uber and Lyft.
In the Travel, Transport and Tourism team at the Office for Statistics Regulation we are interested in statistics on all modes of travel and transport, transport infrastructure and tourism. Official statistics in this area include: travel patterns and distances travelled using various modes of transport; the use of private and public transport; and international visits to the UK. Travel, transport and tourism statistics are produced at a UK-level, for example by the Department for Transport, the Office for National Statistics and the Office for Rail and Road, and at a regional level, for example by the devolved nations. The statistics are used to inform planning and resource allocations by government, including the devolved administrations, local government, business, and third sector organisations. They are also used by government, the media, charities and other third sector organisations to monitor the success of government policies and targets, for example in the case of road safety statistics.
Current regulatory work:
- Series of compliance checks on road safety statistics produced by the devolved administrations (Transport Scotland, Welsh government, Police Service Northern Ireland and Department for Infrastructure)
You can find details of our recently published regulatory work on travel, transport and tourism statistics below.
If you are interested in any of the topics related to this theme, including as a user or producer of official statistics, then we would love to hear from you.
Contact: Anna Price and Ollie Anand
Correspondence
Response from Sir Robert Chote to Munira Wilson MP – ULEZ statistics
16 June 2023
Sir Robert Chote, UK Statistics Authority to Munira Wilson MP, House of Commons
Letter from Munira Wilson MP to Sir Robert Chote – ULEZ statistics
13 April 2023
Munira Wilson MP, House of Commons to Sir Robert Chote, UK Statistics Authority
Response regarding Transport Scotland press release on Aberdeen bypass
12 March 2020
Sir David Norgrove, UK Statistics Authority to Lewis Macdonald MSP, The Scottish Parliament
Overseas Travel and Tourism statistics
29 October 2019
Sir David Norgrove, UK Statistics Authority to Fiona Hyslop MSP, Lord Elis-Thomas AM, Helen Whately MP, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Response on estimates of inbound visitors
19 August 2019
Sir David Norgrove, UK Statistics Authority to Rebecca Pow MP, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Lord Elis-Thomas AM, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Publications
Passenger rail performance 2019-20 Q4 statistical release – Office of Rail and Road
1 June 2020
Published in: Breach Report
Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics
22 October 2019
Published in: Breach Report
National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS)
7 March 2019
Published in: Breach Report
Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) and assisted journeys data
23 April 2018
Published in: Breach Report
National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS)
3 April 2018
Published in: Breach Report
Rail Finance Statistics
13 October 2016
Published in: Breach Report