Latest figures show over 30.5 million people visited Leicester and Leicestershire in 2022. This is an increase of 2.38 million on the previous year and up 18.64 million since the pandemic, proving that one of the hardest hit sectors is making a strong recovery.
According to new figures published this summer, the city saw over 9.91 million visitors whilst over 20.6 million visitors came to the county in 2022.
The tourism economy is worth £2.07 billion to the city and county, an increase of £440 million since 2021 and £108 million up on pre-pandemic figure of £1.962 billion. The figures show that the city and county have surpassed Nottingham and Nottinghamshire combined in their respective recoveries with the value of the Leicester and Leicestershire visitor economy up by 27.1% on 2021 figures, compared to 15.6% growth for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The new figures also show that the number of tourism-related jobs is on the rise, with more than 21,000 people now employed in the sector across the city and the county – an increase of 20% on 2021.
Non-serviced accommodation including self catering, camping and glamping, has surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 figures, showing the strongest recovery in the accommodation market with an economic impact of £95.12m to the region.
The tourism figures for Leicester and Leicestershire are taken from the 2022 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) survey.
The city and county are promoted nationally and internationally through a series of tourism campaigns delivered by Visit Leicester, the destination management organisation for Leicester and Leicestershire. The campaigns are jointly funded by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The LLEP provided £185,000 from the Repurposed Growing Places Fund and £105,000 match funding came from the city and county councils.
The positive tourism results have been welcomed by City Mayor Peter Soulsby, County Council Leader Nick Rushton and Phoebe Dawson, CEO of the LLEP.
Leicester City Mayor 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.”
County council leader Nick Rushton said: “We’re naturally delighted to see the strong growth in our tourism economy, and the creation of an extra 2,000 jobs in the county by the sector in 2022 is particularly welcome. With nearly 14,000 now working in the tourism sector it highlights just how important tourism is to the county.
“Leicestershire has an incredible history and story to tell and we’re glad to see this post pandemic resurgence in visitors, which is translating into increased spend in the local economy and new jobs.”
Phoebe Dawson, CEO of the LLEP, 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 Leicester and Leicestershire – one of the areas hardest hit by the pandemic – to recover.”
