LONDON — More overseas visitors travelled to the U.K. in 2016 than ever before, with strong growth coming from Canada and the U.S.

According to new figures released by VisitBritain, there were a record 37.3 million inbound visits to the U.K. in 2016, up 3% on 2015, with visitors spending £22.2 billion, matching 2015’s record spend.

Comparing growth during the last six years shows there were 7.5 million more visits in 2016 than in 2010, an increase of 25%.

North America contributed 4.3 million visits, up 7% on 2015. And although specific overall visitor numbers for 2016 from Canada won’t be available until spring, from January to September 2016 Canadians spent a record £505 million, up 24% with visits up 12% to 643,000.

“We are thrilled that so many Canadians and Americans are visiting the U.K. again and again, whether they’re visiting friends and relatives or exploring the culture, heritage, cities and countryside of ******* on their own,” said Paul Gauger, VisitBritain Interim Executive Vice President. “They are able to experience first-hand the warm welcome showcased through the global #OMGB ‘Home of Amazing Moments’ marketing campaign, as well as the benefits of the drop in the exchange rate and improved value for money.”

Tracey Crouch, Tourism Minister, added: “As these record-breaking figures show, the U.K. is one of the *****’s must-visit destinations. The industry makes a significant contribution to our economy, and we will continue to support tourism to grow the sector further and promote the U.K. across the *****.”

The figures show a boost in holiday visits to the U.K. towards the end of 2016, with a record 3.2 million visits from October to December, up 11% on the same period in 2015.

The latest flight booking data shows that 2017 is off to a strong start, with flight bookings up to the U.K. up 16% for February to April compared to the same period last year.