Tourism Facts and Figures

Durham Visitor Survey 2010

In 2005/06 One North East carried out the first region wide visitor survey for North East England to establish baseline profiles of tourists to the region. The survey was repeated in 2008 and again in 2010 to establish any changes in consumer demographics or behaviours. This report gives the results of the 2010 survey for the interviews carried out across Durham and where appropriate demonstrates any marked changes on previous surveys.

The key objectives of the survey were to:

To inform development decisions for Durham and the North East
Understand visitor satisfaction and identify areas for improvement
Understand people’s motivation for visiting
Gather visitor profiles such as demographics, booking sources, use of the internet etc
Gather economic expenditure data to feed into economic impact reports.

Download the full report here

Economic Impact of Tourism in Durham

County

1.5 million overnight tourists visited Durham in 2009, spending 4.2 million nights in the area.   In addition more than 16 million day visits were made in the area.  There were 600,000 more visitors to Durham in 2010 than in 2003.

These visitors made a total contribution to the Durham economy of £654 million.

 

Approximately 9,000 jobs (full time equivalents) were supported by direct tourist expenditure in the County, 42% of which were in the food and drink sector and a further 2,200 jobs were supported by indirect revenue from tourism.  There are 2,639 employed in Durham City, 2,382 employed in the Durham Dales, 4,333 employed in the Vale of Durham and 1,327 employed at the Durham Coast. 

 

More than half of all overnight visitors to Durham stay with friends and relatives, however they account for only a third (35%) of overnight visitor spending with an average spend per trip of £123.  This compares to an average spend per person per trip of £157 for overnight visitors staying in commercial accommodation.

 

Tourism in the County remains highly seasonal, with the summer period (July to September) accounting for almost a third of all tourist days.   However this varies between types of visitor.

 

Over the last 7 years the number of overnight visitors has grown by 16% with these visitors spending an additional 20% nights in Durham.  An additional £30 million has been spent by these visitors in 2009 compared to 2003.

 

Durham City

•           Tourism is worth £173,580,000 to Durham City 

             from 3,809,030 visitors

•           £22.96 average day visitor spend

•           £223.67 economic impact per overnight visitor 

            (£79.88 average spend per day for an average

            stay of 2.8 days)

 

Durham Dales

•           Tourism is worth £130,060,000 to the Durham

            Dales from 2,363,500 visitors

•           £22.93 average day visitor spend

•           £267.90 economic impact per overnight visitor

            (£72.40 average spend per day for an average

            stay of 3.7 average stay days). 

 

Durham Coast

•           Tourism is worth £85,290,000 to the Durham

            Coast from 2,852,720 visitors

•           £22.98 average day visitor spend

•           £132.94 economic impact per overnight visitor

            (£102.26 average spend per day for an average of 

            1.3 average days)

 

Vale of Durham

•           41% of all expenditure takes place in the Vale of 

            Durham.

•           Tourism is worth £270,500,000 to the Vale of

            Durham from 8,548,000 visitors

•           £22.91 average day visitor spend

•           £151.89 economic impact per overnight visitor

            (£66.03 average spend per day for an average stay 

            of 2.3 days).

Who Visits Durham?

Visit County Durham commissioned a comprehensive visitor survey which interviewed 2,325 people in 22 locations over 12 months to find out who visits Durham.

The research shows that over 40% of our visitors - more than the national average - are people who are cost-conscious, independently minded and value function over style.

We receive similar numbers to the national average of two other types of visitor - those who favour history, nostalgia and stylish comfort, and those who like new places and new experiences.

Following the research, we held nearly 20 consultation events with stakeholders and tourism businesses in Durham and agreed to focus current marketing efforts on these two groups, and, over the next three to five years, on a third group who are high spenders, independent and like variety in their life.

Accommodation in Durham

Durham has a wide range of accommodation including hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, inns, farmhouses, restaurants with rooms and university campus as well as self catering properties, camping barns, bunkhouses, hostels, and camping and caravan sites.

There are 587 accommodation businesses, providing over 17,500 bed spaces.¹

A total of 267 have a quality accreditation or are awaiting inspection, with 155 properties (58%) graded either four or five star.

Overall serviced room occupancy fell from 44% in 2003 to 34% in 2008.

Unit occupancy levels for non-serviced properties have been consistent over the last five years standing at 55% in 2008.

Includes accredited and non accredited accommodation.
¹(STEAM 2008 – Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor)

Attractions in Durham

There are around 80 visitor attractions in Durham.

Durham Cathedral is the most visited attraction in both Durham and the North East region with 603,500¹ in 2008.

The table below shows visitor numbers to attractions in Durham.

Attraction	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
Durham Cathedral	603,500	608,000	600,000	510,000	-	-
Beamish Museum	294,778	307,801	320,317	309,661	320,628	336,134
Hamsterley Forest	177,198	227,397	-	-	-	-
Locomotion	142,904	140,602	228,386	-	-	-
Durham Dales Centre	103,941	118,410	115,701	114,965	123,341	125,899
The Bowes Museum	98,491	110,851	105,293	125,000	120,000	100,000
DLI Museum & Art Gallery	37,130	42,492	41,707	39,576	38,246	39,197
Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum	18,983	21,373	22,255	23,255	24,597	21,703
Barnard Castle	17,336	27,424	18,195	18,368	21,326	22,000

(One NorthEast Visits to Attractions Survey, 2008)

¹ Includes worshippers

Fourteen visitor attractions participate in VAQAS, the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme.

To take part in VAQAS please contact Melanie Lowes at Visit County Durham, 0191 383 7420 or melanie.lowes@visitcountydurham.org