Visitor surge delivers £1.5 billion boost to Tees Valley

Rising visitor numbers have delivered a record boost for the Tees Valley economy.

New figures show the visitor economy generated more than £1.5 billion in 2025, following a four per cent increase in visitor numbers to 21.3 million. 

The rise represents a £141 million annual increase in tourism impact and is almost 50 per cent higher than 2019 levels.

Major events including the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, Tour of Britain Women, Middlesbrough Mela and Saltburn Food Festival contributed to increased visitor numbers throughout the year.

Visitor spending reached £1.1 billion, while 2.3 million overnight stays were recorded across the region, bucking the wider national decline in domestic overnight tourism.

Councillor Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet portfolio holder for inward investment and tourism, said: "These figures are fantastic news and show the real impact tourism has across Tees Valley.

“We should be incredibly proud of the part Redcar and Cleveland has played in this success, helping attract visitors to our beautiful coastline, thriving businesses and fantastic attractions.

“Tourism supports jobs, creates opportunities and brings investment into our communities, so it's great to see the sector continuing to grow. 

“We’ve built real momentum and I’m excited about what the future holds for our visitor economy.”

Michelle Davies, director of TT Lodges in Thorpe Thewles, Stockton, and Tees Valley LVEP board member, added: “These figures are incredibly encouraging and reflect what many of us in the tourism sector are experiencing on the ground.

“We’ve seen a growing number of visitors choosing Tees Valley for short breaks, with more guests travelling from outside the region and staying for longer. 

“That’s a clear sign that Tees Valley is becoming an increasingly attractive destination in its own right.”

The tourism sector now supports 13,488 jobs across Tees Valley, with food and drink remaining the largest contributor to visitor spending.

Further growth is expected in 2026, with events including the Turner Prize and BBC Proms in Middlesbrough, alongside new attractions such as Stockton’s Waterfront Urban Park, set to attract more visitors to the region.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “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.

“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.”

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