LAKES hoteliers have been enjoying a boost in visitor numbers, reflecting national record inbound tourism figures for the UK.

Statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that there were a record four million overseas visits to the UK in July, the first month to ever break through the four million mark and up six per cent on the same month last year.

And overseas visitors spent £2.8 billion in the UK, the best month for spend on record.

Jonathan Denby, owner and managing director of South Lakes Hotels, said that his own group of six hotels had seen an 11.8 per cent increase in visitors this year in comparison to last.

"There's a big difference," he said. "We are still getting a lot of visitors from Japan but we are also getting an awful lot of people from China and I think that's probably responsible for most of the increase that VisitBritain is talking about."

He said that whereas Japanese visitors tended to be older, those visiting from China were often younger and taking advantage of the outdoor activities that the Lake District offered.

And although the Lake District secured World Heritage status in July, Mr Denby said he thought it was too soon to tell if it had had an impact.

"I think it will do in the long run but I do not think it's probably sunk in yet for many of the foreign visitors," he said.

Ben Berry, of English Lakes Hotels, said that he too thought it was too soon to make any judgements about World Heritage status but that the group had seen a rise in visitors.

"It is fantastic that we continue to grow our international visitors, not just to the UK and London but to here in the Lake District too," he said. "These visitors stay longer and spend more. International guests are key to the sustainable growth of tourism in our area, often driving investment as we seek to create the world class product that these discerning guests demand."

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, added that Cumbria Tourism has been working hard with partners like VisitBritain to ensure that the county is ‘must see’ destination for overseas travellers.

"Looking ahead, a key priority will be looking at how we reach out to new and emerging international markets, drawing on the kudos of having two World Heritage Sites," she said. "The double accolade for both the Lake District and Hadrian’s Wall is a special stamp of recognition, providing new opportunities to communicate with visitor markets across the globe and to encourage people to stay longer and spend more. Combined with the recent introduction of new flights from the USA to Manchester and the upcoming development of Carlisle Airport, there are some great possibilities to drive further growth."