North Yorkshire’s visitor economy tops £4 billion
More than 32 million people visited last year
The value of North Yorkshire’s visitor economy has been revealed in new figures that have shown that the tourism sector is worth in excess of £4 billion every year with an increasing number of people coming to the county.
The tourism industry now supports more than 38,000 full-time jobs across North Yorkshire. The new figures will help shape a long-term strategy, as part of a 10-year destination management plan led by Visit North Yorkshire and overseen by North Yorkshire Council.
Council leader Cllr Carl Les said:
“The new figures clearly show just how important the visitor economy is to North Yorkshire. From our stunning coastlines to the Dales and Moors, there is so much to attract people — and room for growth, particularly in overnight stays.”
Castle Howard, near Malton saw a 10% rise in visitors last summer.
Visitor attraction director, Abbi Ollive, said:
“We had a record-breaking year in 2024, with visitor numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels. These events not only bring people to Castle Howard, but also boost the wider local economy.”
Upcoming initiatives include restaurant weeks in Harrogate and Selby in October, offering meal discounts to encourage local dining, and the launch of the first-ever Whitby Literature Festival in November.