Dear Ms Pow, Ms Hyslop and Lord Elis-Thomas,
Thank you for your letter of 13 August in which you highlight concerns about the quality of estimates from the International Passenger Survey for inbound visitors. You pointed to the importance of these estimates in enabling you to monitor and evaluate existing policy and develop new strategies.
Clearly you must be able to rely on these estimates. The Office for Statistics Regulation has committed to bringing forward its planned review of Overseas Travel and Tourism statistics. The review will include consideration of the issues you have raised in your letter with a view to publishing findings by the end of September 2019. This review will build on the compliance check published in October 2018 which looked at the transparency and communication of International Passenger Survey methods changes, delays and quality information.
OSR will engage with your officials to ensure the review reflects the concerns you have identified.
I am copying this letter to Iain Bell, Deputy National Statistician for Population and Public Policy.
Yours sincerely,
Sir David Norgrove
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