Tourism brought a record £3.7 billion in economic benefits to South Yorkshire in 2024
The latest visitor figures have been released by South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership showing significant growth across the region.
An estimated 36.3 million tourism visits were made to South Yorkshire in 2024 bringing a £3.7 billion boost to the region’s visitor economy. This included 32.3 million tourism visits made by day visitors, showing a 5% increase on the previous year, and a 10.5% increase since 2022. Visitors staying in the region were estimated to have spent 9.4m nights in local accommodation.
The data commissioned via the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership and processed by Global Tourism Solution’s STEAM Report, also revealed that visitor activity and spend supports more than 32,101 full time equivalent jobs locally, making it a key sector within the region.
Local businesses - including hotels, restaurants, bars, and attractions, are set to welcome large groups of visitors as South Yorkshire hosts a wide range of high-profile events in the coming months. Many of these visitors may be experiencing our cities and towns for the first time and spending money in the local visitor economy.
Sarah McLeod, Chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership said: “The STEAM data is invaluable for us a partnership and for the wider visitor economy as it clearly highlights the vital role of this sector in South Yorkshire. By working collaboratively, we can drive sustainable growth, ensuring that—now more than ever—we encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more with our local businesses.”
