OVER 100 tourism and hospitality businesses came together to celebrate another strong year for Essex’s visitor economy. The Visit Essex annual conference took place on 12 November at Hylands House, Chelmsford.
The event brought together leading voices in tourism, including Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, and Joss Croft, CEO of UKinbound, to discuss issues shaping the future of the industry. Hot topics included artificial intelligence, skills development and advice on how to attract international visitors.
New tourism statistics revealed that the value of tourism in Essex rose by 3% in 2024, reaching £3.57 billion. Growth was particularly strong among overnight visitors, with stays increasing by 29%. This was positive news as people are staying longer and spending more.
In total, Essex welcomed over 52.4 million visitors in 2024. The tourism sector now supports 73,276 jobs, representing 11% of all employment in Greater Essex.
Visit Essex also announced an ambitious target to grow the value of tourism by 15% over the next decade. The move will build on recent successes and strengthen Essex’s position as a top UK destination.
Councillor Mark Durham, Chair of Visit Essex, is excited about the opportunities. He said: “Tourism in Essex is booming. It’s fantastic to see more people discovering what makes our county such a great place to visit. We have a beautiful coastline, countryside, plus vibrant towns, shopping, and food scene. The figures show real confidence in Essex as a destination. Thanks to strong collaboration across the sector, we’re looking forward to even greater success.”
Research conducted by Visit Essex found that 85% of visitors described Essex as welcoming and 70% found it appealing. Visitors most frequently enjoyed shopping, the seaside, countryside, plus food and drink experiences.
Last year, Visit Essex achieved Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) accreditation from VisitEngland. This helped to secure its position as a nationally recognised destination management organisation.
Visit Essex represents around 250 tourism and hospitality businesses. It provides a collective voice for the industry and helps to promote and develop tourism across the county.
To discover more about tourism in Essex, go to www.visitessex.com.
