US attracts British visitors

A record number of people from the UK look set to take a holiday in the US this year, new estimates have revealed.

According to Visit USA, the country attracted about 343,000 British leisure travellers in May 2008 - an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year.

This has prompted the organisation to suggest that this trend will continue during the next few months, reports the Telegraph.

Peter Moss, chairman of Visit USA, commented: "The early booking signs pointed towards 2008 becoming a very good year for travel to the USA and these latest UK-USA arrival statistics have now confirmed that forecast."

He added that the number of visitors from the UK could reach as much as five million this year - which would be the highest amount on record.

The group has attributed the popularity of the US to the favourable exchange rates, as it means it offers good value for money to British visitors.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents, a growing number of holidaymakers from the UK are taking exchange rates into account when booking trips abroad.