An LLEP-funded project has helped boost the region’s visitor economy – creating jobs and increasing footfall by 27% across the city and county.
Latest figures show more than 30.5 million people visited Leicester and Leicestershire in 2022. Tourism was worth £2.07 billion to the city and county – an increase of £440million since 2021.
The Place Marketing Accelerator Project was funded by a £185,000 grant, awarded by the LLEP from the Repurposed Growing Places Fund, and £105,000 from Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council.
The funding enabled Visit Leicester to carry out work to support the recovery of the tourism, hospitality, and leisure sectors post-COVID as well as encouraging inward investment.
LLEP CEO Phoebe Dawson said: “We know that Leicester and Leicestershire have much to offer, and investment in spreading the word is having an effect on increasing our reach.
“We’re pleased to see LLEP funding achieve the desired outcome of helping the recovery of Leicester and Leicestershire – one of the areas hardest hit by the Pandemic.”
Tourism figures for Leicester and Leicestershire are taken from the 2022 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) survey.
Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, said: “This is excellent news. The economic value of tourism in Leicester has grown by 36% since 2021, and investor confidence in tourism is high, as demonstrated by the huge increase in the number of hotels in the city.
“The growth we’ve seen in tourism-related jobs gives a huge boost to our economy, as do the millions of visitors who come here every year and spend their money in local businesses.
“It shows that our investment in making the city easy to get around, and an attractive place to be has been well worth it. It also reflects the huge efforts of all those working in the tourism and hospitality sector in our city.”
