YORK’S tourism sector is said to be thriving, with the city welcoming 9 million visitors last year, and adding nearly £2bn to York’s economy.

Tourism promotion body Make It York reports visitor numbers increased 2.2 per cent in 2023, with an estimated 1.3 million of the visitors from overseas.

Make it York says the figures show the resilience of the industry and the effectiveness of its strategies.

“The strong recovery signals renewed confidence and interest in what our city has to offer, as we continue to provide a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience for all,” said a statement.

RECOMMENDED READING:


Tourism contributed a worth of £1.82 billion to York’s visitor economy, compared with £1.7billion in 2022, with a direct visitor expenditure of a similar £1.2 billion.

The highest proportion of spend was on York’s shopping scene at £411 million, followed by the array of food and drink available at £332 million. The biggest increase in spend was on the city’s accommodation at £309 million, up 12.4% compared to 2022.

Make it York also reported some 16,017 FTE jobs are supported directly and indirectly by tourism, but this was slightly down on the 17,000 of 2022.

The body says the figures highlight York as a premier destination for both domestic and international visitors.


Success is credited on city businesses and others working together to expand Make it York’s reach, enhance its programmes and attract even more visitors.

Through its Visit York brand, Make it York pledged to continue such work and ensure York remains a world-class destination.

Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said: “Make It York is delighted to reaffirm our commitment to showcasing the city as a premier, world-class destination.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we remain dedicated to driving collaboration and continuing to focus on further elevating the visitor experience and sustaining our upward momentum.”

Mark Mattinson, Visit York Members’ Advisory Board and General Manager at The York Dungeon, said: "It is really encouraging to see such positive news. This is a great reflection of how hard every member of Visit York works in continuing to deliver an amazing welcome to York's visitors, and in turn reinforce our reputation as a world class visitor destination."

Dr Brendan Paddison, Chair of York Tourism Advisory Board and Associate Professor at York St John University, said: “It's clear from the latest data shared by Visit York that York's tourism sector is thriving.

“This is reflective of the incredible work our tourism and hospitality businesses do on a daily basis to ensure York truly is one of the best destinations to visit for both visitors and residents.

“This success is built on genuine collaboration across the sector with key agencies and tourism businesses working together to ensure York's tourism sector continues to thrive.”