Tourism Facts and Figures
Economic Impact of Tourism in Durham
Around 1.4 million overnight tourists visit County Durham, spending 4 million nights in the area, and almost 16 million day visits are made.
Visitors contribute £627 million to the local economy. This is fairly evenly split between overnight visitors (45%) and day visitors (55%).
Around two thirds of revenue from overnight tourists is from those staying in commercial accommodation (64%).
Six out of ten overnight visitors to County Durham stay with friends and relatives, but they account for only a third of overnight visitor spending - an average spend per trip of £80. This compares to an average spend per person per trip of £186 for overnight visitors staying in commercial accommodation.
Tourism in the county remains highly seasonal, with the summer (July to September) accounting for almost a third of all tourist days.
Tourism supports around 11,000 jobs.
Overall, tourism is the second largest sector in the county, accounting for 10 per cent of the economy.
(STEAM 2008 - Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor)
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
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