Tourist industry reported to have boosted city’s economy by £1.35bn in 2022

More than 15 million people visited Sheffield in 2022, bringing an estimated £1.35bn boost to the city’s economy – in new figures published by Sheffield City Council.

Tourists spent money on accommodation, food and drink, culture, shopping, and travel. The visitor economy supports 13,285 full time equivalent jobs in Sheffield.

The Women’s Euros brought football and extra visitors to Sheffield. City centre footfall increased by more than 10,000 (22%) and all of the city’s hotel rooms were fully booked during match days. The Rugby League World Cup also brought thousands more sports fans to the city.

Sheffield City Council says events run by local businesses also helped make the city more attractive to tourists.

A spokesman for the council said: “Markets like Peddler street food market and Pollen flower markets continued to thrive and annual events like World Snooker, Tramlines and Art in the Gardens brought sports, music and arts fans.

“Having the Peak District on Sheffield’s doorstep is an added bonus for visitors. These adventure opportunities sit alongside culture and heritage and live music, which adds to Sheffield’s tourist offer.”

The council notes this is the first year since 2019 that the visitor economy has not been affected by Covid restrictions. And it says the value of Sheffield’s visitor economy is now only 1.2% below its pre-pandemic level.

Councillor Martin Smith, chair of the council’s Economic Development and Skills Committee, said: “It is fantastic to see that tourists are keen to visit and experience all the Sheffield has to offer.

“The pandemic was an incredibly challenging time for our visitor economy and it is good to see that recovery is on track and that visitors are returning to Sheffield. A strong tourist offer is good for our city and its residents, it creates jobs and boosts our economy.

“In autumn, Sheffield’s proposed Destination Management Plan – a long term plan for tourism in the region will be considered by the Economic Development and Skills Committee.

“The plan follows July’s announcement of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership by Visit England and will bring together unique attractions and visitor experiences from across the region to attract more visitors to South Yorkshire.”