An ambitious plan to grow inbound visitor numbers to 40 million a year by 2020 was launched today by UK tourism chiefs.
The rise would represent a 3% year-on-year increase and would deliver £8.7 billion additional foreign exchange earnings at today's prices, said VisitBritain.
The extra visitors would help support 200,000 additional jobs, the organisation added.
Launching a consultation on a growth strategy in London today, VisitBritain said it wanted to build on the exposure the UK had from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and also showcase Britain's strengths.
These include heritage and culture plus plans to address what VisitBritain described as "perceived weaknesses such as natural beauty, food, value and welcome".
At present Britain hosts around 31 million overseas visitors a year. Last year, these visitors spent £18 billion during their trips.
VisitBritain chairman Christopher Rodrigues said today: "This summer has shown what the country can do when we are united in a common cause.
"This country showed passion, professionalism, drive and energy to stage the best-ever Olympic and Paralympic Games. The test now is whether we can maintain this to create wealth and jobs through a major tourism drive."
He went on: "This consultation with the industry, the public agencies and multiple Government departments that care about tourism and impact on its success has been designed to identify shared priorities and potential partnerships.
"International tourism is a growth industry but the global marketplace is getting tougher as other countries have recognised the potential of the sector. Britain can succeed if we focus - aligning priorities, investment and activity.
"Tourism is the industry that can deliver the economic legacy of the 2012 Games. It is an industry that can deliver jobs quickly - right across Britain and at all skills levels - and much-needed economic growth.
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"Every £40,000 spent by overseas visitors to Britain can create a new job. International tourism is our third-largest earner of foreign exchange and contributed £3.1 billion to the nation's coffers directly in taxation in 2011."
