Rising numbers of visitors to Tees Valley delivered a £1.5bn annual boost to the local economy, new figures have revealed.
Successful celebrations such as the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway – which attracted visitors from across the globe – alongside events such as the Tour of Britain Women, Middlesbrough Mela and Saltburn Food Festival – powered a 4% jump in visitor numbers to 21.3million in 2025.
The increase helped the annual economic impact of tourism for the region rise by £141million 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 2% 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 £510million 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.
“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.
Councillor Alec Brown, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and TVCA 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, said: “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 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.
