Cheshire’s  visitor economy valued at £3.9bn as post-Covid recovery takes effect

Cheshire’s visitor economy is benefiting from a return to pre-Covid levels, with new figures showing it is now worth £3.9bn a year to the region.

The latest annual statistics reveals the region attracted more than 56 million visits, a 2.4% rise on the previous year.

Analysis by Marketing Cheshire from the latest STEAM economic impact report also reveals that the total number of people enjoying overnight stays in the region has surpassed pre-Covid levels.

Greeting the data with cautious optimism, tourism officials and the region’s local authorities pledged to continue collectively working with businesses and bodies such as Visit England to promote a destination boasting world class tourism attractions.

These are as diverse as the Roman history and world’s oldest racecourse in Chester,  Gulliver’s World theme park in Warrington, Chester Zoo, a UNESCO World Heritage site at Jodrell Bank’s Discovery Centre, Tatton Park, and the muddled mazes of BeWILDerwood set in 70 acres of woodland next to the historic Cholmondeley Castle.

The number of people choosing to stay for one night or more in Cheshire and Warrington continues to increase.

In 2023 a total 3.75 million people enjoyed an overnight stay in the region – a 4.1% annual rise and eclipsing the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 3.69 million.

Overnight stays, as well as overall visits, also rose in all three local authority areas.

In Cheshire East, visitor days rose from 14.55 million in 2022 to 14.99 million in 2023 with its visitor economy valued at more than £1bn.

In Cheshire West and Chester, visitor days rose from 30.93 million in 2022 to 31.44 million in 2023 and its visitor economy is now worth £2.26bn.

And in Warrington, visitor days increased from 9.33 million in 2022 to 9.663 million in 2023 with its visitor economy valued at £639.41m.

Employment in the visitor economy continues to grow – the region as a whole saw an 8.6% rise in jobs and employed 38,006 people in this sector in 2023 – 6,170 in Warrington, 10,022 in Cheshire East and 21,814 in Cheshire West and Chester.

Trevor Brocklebank, Chair of Marketing Cheshire, said: “Comprising fantastic tourist attractions, superb accommodation providers, wonderful retail and exquisite areas of natural beauty, millions of people are flocking to our region to enjoy Cheshire and Warrington’s world class visitor economy which the latest data shows is valued at just short of £4bn.

“It is testament to a collective approach between tourism and council partners with businesses to make the region a unique place to work, live and visit.”

He added: “While we must not get complacent in testing economic times it is also extremely encouraging to see overnight stays eclipsing pre-pandemic figures.”