|
Tourism and the economy 旅游与经济 BRITONS have had some good economic news to celebrate over the past few months.Unemployment is falling, house prices in England hit a record high in July and economicoutput appears to be growing at its fastest pace since 2010. 过去几个月英国人有很多利好的经济资讯值得庆祝。失业率在下降，7月英格兰的房价创下历史新高，GDP呈现自2010年来的最快增速。 At first glance Britains tourism industry appears to be contributing to the economicbounce. Data released this month by the Office for National Statistics suggest that there hasbeen a big increase in foreign tourists visiting Britain since London hosted the Olympics lastyear. In the first seven months of 2013, foreign visitor numbers rose by 4%, compared withthe same period in 2012, and spending was up 12%. In July 2013 foreign visitors spent 30%more than in July 2012, setting a new record. 乍一看，英国的旅游业对经济反弹有所贡献。英国国家统计局本月公布的数据表明，自去年伦敦举办奥运会以来前往英国旅游的外国游客数量大增。2013年的前7个月相比2012年同期外国游客数量增加了4%，游客花费也增加了12%。2013年7月外国游客花费比去年同期增加了30%，创下了新纪录。 Hotels and attractions nationwide say they are benefiting from the unexpected boost in thetourist trade. According to data produced by STRGlobal, a consultancy, hotel-occupancy ratesrose in nearly every English region in the first half of 2013. London, in particular, has seen asurge in foreign tourists since the Olympics ended: hotel-occupancy rates in the capitaljumped by seven percentage points to 89% in June compared with a year earlier. | 
