The city of York welcomed nine million visitors in 2023, an increase of 2.2% on the previous year, acccording to Make It York. Of these visitors, an estimated 1.3 million were from overseas.

Tourism contributed £1.82 billion to York’s visitor economy, with a direct visitor expenditure of £1.2 billion.

The highest proportion of spend was on York’s shopping scene at £411 million, followed by food and drink at £332 million. The biggest increase in spend was on the city’s accommodation at £309 million, up 12.4%.

There were 1.7 million staying visitors, up 1.3%, and 7.3 million day visitors, up 2.5. The average length of stay was 3.2 nights.

A total of 16,017 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs were supported directly and indirectly by tourism.

Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said:  “Make It York is delighted to reaffirm our commitment to showcasing the city as a premier, world-class destination.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we remain dedicated to driving collaboration and continuing to focus on further elevating the visitor experience and sustaining our upward momentum.”

Dr Brendan Paddison, Chair of York Tourism Advisory Board and Associate Professor at York St John University, said: “It’s clear from the latest data shared by Visit York that York’s tourism sector is thriving.

“This is reflective of the incredible work our tourism and hospitality businesses do on a daily basis to ensure York truly is one of the best destinations to visit for both visitors and residents.

“This success is built on genuine collaboration across the sector with key agencies and tourism businesses working together to ensure York’s tourism sector continues to thrive.”