Successful celebrations – such as the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway which attracted visitors from across the globe – alongside other big events, including the Tour of Britain Women – powered a four per cent jump in visitor numbers to 21.3million last year.
The increase helped the annual economic impact of tourism for the region rise by £ 141 million to more than £1.5 billion – up 10% on a year earlier and almost 50% higher than 2019.
The latest increase in visitor numbers further establishes Tees Valley as one of the UK’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
The rise has been achieved thanks to a dedicated and collective approach led by Tees Valley Combined Authority in collaboration with the five Local Authorities. It has seen the region secure Local Visitor Economy Partnership status, shaping priorities and enabling closer ties with VisitEngland.
It includes work to raise the profile of the region nationally and internationally, bringing major events to Tees Valley and working with local hospitality and tourism businesses to develop the right targeted support.
During the year, visitor spending climbed to £1.1bn, while 2.3 million overnight visitors chose to stay longer in the region – a two per cent rise which bucked the national trend of a decline in overnight UK stays.
The sector now supports 13,488 jobs, as tourism continues to play a vital role in driving growth, supporting businesses and boosting high streets.
The latest figures show food and drink remained the biggest contributor to the visitor economy, generating £510 million and accounting for 45% of all visitor spending.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “These latest figures show we’re going further and faster in attracting visitors to our fantastic region with its stunning coastal landscape and its superb attractions. We’ve gone from a strong recovery to more growth, with more people visiting, staying longer and spending more right across our region. That means more jobs, more opportunities for our brilliant businesses and more people spending here.”
He added: “We’ve worked hard to bring major events here, backing our unique cultural and heritage attractions and it’s clear that’s paying off. But we’ve got even bigger ambitions. We want to bring in more visitors, more investment and more big-name events – and we want to make sure local people and businesses see and reap the benefits.”
New and existing attractions are also primed to bring more visitors to the area in 2026 including Middlesbrough hosting the 2026 Turner Prize and the BBC Proms and the recent unveiling of Stockton’s new Waterfront Urban Park.
The figures are based on the STEAM model, which is widely used by UK local authorities to offer a detailed picture of the economic impact of tourism.
Author: Ian
Reporter and author of Pop Life, covering all things news, music and local events.