Number of visitors to UK increased despite Londom bombings

The number of visitors to the United Kingdom rose 7.4 percent in July compared to the same month a year earlier, despite the terrorist attacks on London transport, preliminary figures showed Friday.

The Office for National Statistics said the number of visitors from Western Europe was 1.84 million, up 8.9 percent compared to July 2004, offsetting a 2.4 percent drop to the number from North America, which was 560,000. Visitors from other areas increased 11.9 percent, the AP says.

Visitor numbers from North America were down in four of the previous six months, the agency said.