More than 15 million people visited Sheffield in 2022, bringing an estimated £1.35billion boost to the city’s economy.
Tourists spent money on accommodation, food and drink, culture, shopping, and travel, which helps bring money into the city and create jobs. The visitor economy supports 13,285 full time equivalent jobs in Sheffield.
Cultural events, sporting fixtures and Sheffield’s growing reputation as a city break destination has helped the city attract tourists in 2022. The Women’s Euros brought football and footfall 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. Whilst the Rugby League World Cup brought thousands more sports fans to Sheffield.
Events run by local businesses also helped make Sheffield more attractive to tourists. 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 to the city.
Sheffield has been named the ‘second best city to visit’ by TimeOut and its reputation as The Outdoor City attracts city break visitors who enjoy adventures from climbing to stand up paddleboarding to exploring our open spaces on foot. 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.
This is the first year since 2019 that the visitor economy has not been affected by covid restrictions. The value of Sheffield’s visitor economy is now only 1.2% below its pre-pandemic level. Figures show that Sheffield’s visitor economy recovery is in line with other major cities across the UK.
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee, said: “We all know how brilliant Sheffield is because we’re residents of the city. 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.
“From world-class sporting events to local artisan markets, adventures on the edge of our city in the Peak District, visits to our museums, galleries and theatres, and of course, shopping trips. I am proud that Sheffield has attracted so many visitors, providing a welcome boost to the city’s economy.”
