Surge in tourist spending to boost UK retail, leisure firms

LONDON:  Spending by foreign tourists in Britain is set to rise 34 percent to over 27 billion pounds a year by 2017, according to research published on Friday, boosting the country's retail and leisure industries.

A report commissioned for Barclays said an increase in spending by tourists from emerging economies such as China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, together with loosening visa restrictions, would support the boost to Britain's economy.