Redcar tourism numbers grow higher since the pandemic, new data shows

More than 4.4 million people visited Redcar and Cleveland in 2024, according to new tourism figures that show the area’s visitor economy has grown significantly since before the pandemic.

Data from a Redcar and Cleveland report reveals that the area welcomed an estimated 4.426 million visitors in 2024, an increase from 3.74 million in 2017.

The tourism’s estimated economic impact also rose significantly during that period, increasing from £167 million to £268.5 million.

Infographic by Melissa Wade

The number of jobs supported by tourism has also increased.

The data estimates tourism now supports around 2,584 jobs in Redcar and Cleveland, compared with 1,749 jobs in 2017.

Across the wider Tees Valley, tourism now contributes an estimated £1.38 billion to the economy and supports nearly 13,000 jobs.

Despite the growth, the data highlights one of the biggest challenges facing Redcar’s tourism sector, which is that most visitors still arrive for the day rather than staying overnight.

The data showed Redcar and Cleveland attracted around 3.4 million-day visitors in 2017, compared with 327,000 overnight visitors, which remains similar in 2024.

That imbalance matters because overnight tourists tend to spend significantly more money in local hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Tourism experts often view overnight stays as a key indicator of whether a destination is successfully building a sustainable visitor economy rather than relying mainly on seasonal beach trips and short visits.

The figures also raise wider questions about how far tourism growth is being felt by Redcar residents. 

While tourism numbers have risen, Redcar still faces significant economic challenges including high deprivation levels and persistent empty shops in parts of the town centre.

Christina Williams, a Redcar resident, said: “It’s really good that tourists are coming but tourism is seasonal.

“What we need is more long-term solutions that create jobs and opportunities for everyone, not just during the summer months.”

There are currently 52 vacant buildings in Redcar despite regeneration projects and investment.

That contrast creates a more complicated picture behind the headline growth figures.

The North East remains one of England’s smaller tourism economies compared with regions such as London, however with new regeneration projects like the Redcar Town Deal, there is hope it can reshape the perceptions of Redcar as both a tourism and investment destination.

The tourism figures were produced using the STEAM tourism economic impact model commissioned by regional tourism bodies and councils. The model estimates visitor activity using accommodation occupancy, surveys, and local economic data.