Although it was dubbed one of Britain’s least desirable locations, tourists apparently adore visiting Crawley.
According to government statistics, the town of West Sussex ranks among the top destinations chosen by international visitors.
It was ranked 15th according to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) list of destinations.
That put it above Nottingham (16th) the land of Robin Hood, and Aberdeen (17th), which has frequently won the ' Beautiful Scotland' award.
Crawley, whose name originates from the Old English term 'crawe leah,' signifying 'a clearing frequented by crows,' managed to surpass Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Reading, and the globally renowned pilgrimage site of Canterbury.
The outcomes might be attributed to Crawley being home to Gatwick The airport, a key global hub utilized by countless travelers each year.
Crawley was placed at number 20 on a list identifying the least desirable locations as per a major newspaper.
This prompted a strong defense from The Argus, a local publishing company based in the Brighton area, which stated that it was "a great place to reside."
The ONS report, which was based on the count of overnight stays, left out London.
The city reported receiving 20.3 million overnight visits in 2023.
Edinburgh, leading the rankings, reported 2.3 million visits as per the extensive survey, which was based on responses from hundreds of thousands of participants.
Manchester (1.7M) secured the second spot and Birmingham (934,000) third.
Liverpool (900,000) and Glasgow (685,000) completed the top five list.
In 2023, foreign residents carried out 38 million trips to the United Kingdom, an increase from the 31.2 million seen in 2022.
Expenditure rose as well, jumping from £26.5 billion in 2022 to £31.1 billion.
Moreover, even though the number of visitors is still below pre-pandemic levels, tourists spending in Britain exceeded what was recorded in 2019.
However, under Chancellor Rachel Reeves, proposals for a 'lodging levy' might result in tourists paying an extra £12 per night in the coming days.
It is reported that treasury officials conducted 'modeling exercises' to assess the effects of implementing a tax similar to the one used in France.
Over the Channel, daily lodging costs can vary from under one pound per person at a campground to over twelve pounds in a five-star hotel.
Various councils such as those in Manchester, Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole have already implemented what is known as a visitor fee, which hotels may list separately on customer invoices.
A report from April of the previous year estimated that the charge generated £2.8 million for Manchester in its initial year.
Chancellor’s plan for an extensive nationwide strategy has faced strong resistance from global brands including Burberry and Watches of Switzerland, which sells Rolex, along with Heathrow and hotel magnate Sir Rocco Forte.
The London-based organization BusinessLDN similarly urged Labour to focus on 'growth-promoting' strategies.
However, according to calculations by the economic advocacy group TaxPayers' Alliance, implementing a £1.25 fee per night would generate approximately £560 million annually.
York, which placed slightly higher than Crawley on the list with approximately nine million visitors within a year, has embraced the concept of implementing a tourism tax for the city to aid in maintaining attractions like the Roman walls and the Shambles shopping district.
In 2023, out of the top ten countries whose citizens visited the UK most often, seven were from the European Union.
The three non-EU countries mentioned were the United States, Australia, and Canada.
In 2023, the United States led the chart for international tourists, recording 5.1 million arrivals from abroad, similar to the figures seen in 2022.
The United States was trailed by France (3.2 million), Germany (3 million), and Ireland (2.9 million).
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