Tourism across our region generated a staggering £1.38billion for the local economy last year, according to new data.

Statistics show the boost came in the shape of £475million generated by rising numbers of overnight visitors and £906million from day visitors in 2024 – with the food and sector the biggest winner, contributing 45.8% of the total economic impact and providing almost half of all direct tourism employment.

The numbers are crunched using the STEAM model – a mechanism used by local authorities across the UK and provides a detailed picture of the economic impact of tourism – including day trips, overnight stays, visitor spending, and employment supported by the visitor economy.

And they showed how visitor numbers have now recovered beyond pre-pandemic levels.

In 2024, the Tees Valley saw:

  • £475million generated by overnight visitors – up 1.3% on 2023, and 3.9% higher than 2019, before the covid-19 pandemic.
  • £906million from day visitors – up 5.4% on 2023, and 0.6% above 2019 levels.
  • 23.4million visitor days and 20.4million individual visits, offering increases of 4.5% and 5.0% respectively on the previous year.
  • Tourism directly supported 10,035 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, rising to 12,919 when indirect employment is included.
  • The food and drink sector provided a total of 4,758 FTE roles, up 3.1% from the previous year.

The figures were presented and endorsed at last week’s (2 July) LVEP (Local Visitor Economy Partnership) Board – a body which plays an important role representing the voice of key sectors within the local visitor economy.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who also chairs the LVEP Board, said: “These brilliant results show we’re not just open for business – we’re open for hundreds of thousands of visitors too.

“From our bustling food and drink scene to our coastal escapes, cultural attractions, and global sporting events, we’re proving our beautiful part of the world can more than hold its own as a top destination.

“Tourism means real jobs, real investment, and real pride in our home. With more than 12,000 jobs supported by this sector, this isn’t just about people visiting for a day – it’s about a growing industry that puts money in the pockets of local people and keeps our vital small businesses across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool opening and running.

“These figures are good news – but I’m keen for us to do more. We recognise there is still an awful lot to do to support our businesses more – and offer targeted help.

“We need to attract more major national and international events, listen to our businesses and get our investment right. We’ll keep getting our name out there and letting the world know just how brilliant our region is.”

The Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) is a nationally recognised model that measures tourism volume, value, and economic impact. It draws on a range of data sources including accommodation occupancy, visitor surveys, and local economic data to provide a detailed annual picture of the performance of the visitor economy.