York’s tourism sector is becoming an increasingly significant contributor to the city’s economy, despite visitor numbers still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels. According to a new report from Make It York, the sector generated £2.01bn in 2024, marking a 5.04% increase over the previous year.
The report reveals that retail, food and drink, and accommodation were the largest sectors for visitor spending. Retail saw 34% of visitor expenditure, followed by food and drink (27%) and accommodation (25%).
Visitor numbers in 2024 reached 9.4 million, still falling short of pre-pandemic figures. Although the city has seen growth in both domestic and international tourism, the pace of recovery remains slower than anticipated. Overseas visitors made up nearly a quarter of the tourism revenue.
The tourism sector also experienced employment growth, with 16,788 people employed in the industry, representing a 4.8% increase compared to 2023.
Overnight stays in York also saw a slight rise to 1.7 million, with more than half of these visitors opting for serviced accommodation such as hotels. However, concerns have been raised about the impact of short-term rentals on the housing market, and Make It York is looking into ways to balance tourism growth and sustainability.
The organisation is also exploring the broader social impact of tourism, such as encouraging public transport use to avoid over-tourism and ensure long-term benefits for both locals and visitors.
