The official statistics for the final quarter of 2019 have yet to been published, although in 2018 a total of 37.9 million people visited the UK from overseas and cumulatively spent £22.8 billion, making the average spend per visit £601. Compared to 2017, there were 5.3% and 2.3% respective decreases in international visitors and spending. This is the first time since 2009-10 that the number of visitors has dropped. This has been attributed to the emergence of other countries, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, as tourist destinations as well as the geopolitical uncertainty that has manifested as a result of the Brexit 2016 referendum.