Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
29
Jun 2022
New data shows Harrogate district visitor economy recovering from covid
The Harrogate district's visitor economy has yet to recover to pre-covid levels last year, according to figures released yesterday.
The figures show the district attracted 6.47 million visitor numbers, generating an impact of £606 million, in 2019.
In 2020 — when covid struck — visitor numbers crashed to 2.81 million, generating an impact of £279 million, which was a 54 per cent decrease.
Last year, which began with another lockdown but gradually saw the economy open up again, there were more than four million visitor numbers, with an estimated economic impact of £457million, according to the data from Harrogate Borough Council's tourism body Destination Harrogate.
Destination Harrogate calculated the figures using data that measures the economic impact of visits to the district and hotel performance.
Gemma Rio
Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, said the figures painted "a positive picture for the recovery of the visitor economy in the Harrogate district", adding:
Data from 2019 shows that on average an overnight visitor stayed 3.3 days and generated £316 for the local economy. In 2021, this rose to 3.5 days and £344.
Read more:
- Harrogate tourism body makes health and wellbeing top priority
- Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam dies
According to Destination Harrogate, the 2022 peak season has got off to a "healthy start", with figures indicating that in March, April and May, hotels were largely fuller and seeing a greater level of revenue per available room than they were in 2019.
Cllr Stanley Lumley
Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said:
The Crown Hotel
Dan Siddle, general manager of Harrogate’s Crown Hotel and chair of Harrogate Hotel & Tourism Association, said:
0