英国接收更多的海外游客

 　　LONDON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The official figures released¹ on Thursday showed that Britain received more overseas visitors in the first half of this year.

　　The Office for National Statistics² (ONS) said foreign residents³ made 15.24 million visits to Britain in the six month to June, an increase of 4 percent year on year.

　　At the same time, overseas visitors spent 8.72 billion pounds (13.60 billion U.S. dollars) during their stay in Britain, up by 11 percent over the same period of last year.

　　According to the ONS figures, the number of visits to Britain by overseas residents in June was 2.9 million, 12 percent more than a year earlier.

　　During the period April to June, overseas residents made 5 percent more visits to Britain than a year earlier and spent 10 percent more on these visits, said the ONS.

　　In the 12 months to June 2013, the number of visits abroad by British residents remained broadly the same when compared with a year earlier, but expenditure⁴ on these visits grew by 3 percent.

　　Visits to Europe by British residents rose by 2 percent while those to North America fell by 8 percent and to other countries fell by 4 percent, said the ONS.

1 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

2 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

3 residents   

n.居民( resident的名词复数 )；（旅馆的）住宿者

参考例句：

• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。
• Local residents have reacted angrily to the news. 当地居民对这一消息表示愤怒。

4 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。