Tourism in city tops £1bn for first time

4 hours ago

Hannah Griffithsand

Dan Sambell,in Coventry

News image — Tourism in Coventry generated more than £1bn in economic value for the first time in 2025, officials said

BBC A four-panel collage showing landmarks in Coventry city centre. The images include the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, the Belgrade Theatre, the Telegraph Hotel and Coventry Cathedral. The buildings are photographed under cloudy skies with streets, trees and public spaces visible in the foreground. — Tourism in Coventry generated more than £1bn in economic value for the first time in 2025, officials said

Tourism bosses in Coventry say a landmark year for the city has seen visitor spending generate more than £1bn in economic value for the first time.

New figures show 12.6 million people visited the city in 2025, up 6.5% on the previous year.

Destination Coventry said the growth coincided with a year that included part of Coventry City's Championship-winning season and major concerts at the CBS Arena featuring Ed Sheeran, Bob Dylan and Tom Grennan.

Pete Chambers, director of the Coventry Music Museum, said he had noticed visitors travelling from further afield.

"We get people from all over the world. We've had people from, I think, 103 different countries," he said.

"Nearly 60,000 people [have visited the museum] and a lot of those are from Australia, America, New Zealand and Africa.

"I just think it's going to get better and better."

A visitor stands in Coventry city centre with a public square behind them. In the background are pedestrians, benches, trees and an equestrian statue on a stone plinth surrounded by shops and city-centre buildings. — Visitor Sue Pinn said she could have "wandered around all day" at Coventry Indoor Market

Paul McMahon, managing director of Destination Coventry, said the figures reflected years of work by businesses and organisations across the city.

"It's an absolute endorsement of the incredible amount of hard work done over a number of years by every single business and every single individual that works in the city," he said.

Sue Pinn, who was visiting from Exeter, said she had been encouraged by a friend to visit Coventry Indoor Market.

"I was told I had to go for the smells and the variety of different foods," she said.

"It's fabulous. I could have wandered around all day. Some of the food I didn't recognise, just brilliant."

Two visitors stand together in a pedestrianised shopping area in Coventry city centre. Shops, restaurants, trees and people walking through the square can be seen in the background. — Ted and Lynn Walker, from Cumbria, said they make a point of visiting Coventry whenever they holiday in the region

Ted and Lynn Walker, from Cumbria, were visiting Coventry as part of a holiday in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The couple said they made a point of visiting the city whenever they were in the area.

"Beautiful, we love Coventry," Walker said.

"Every time we come to Stratford, we catch the X18 bus and have a look around the cathedral, do a little shopping and it's just absolutely wonderful."

The figures were calculated using the STEAM (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor) model, allowing comparisons with other destinations.

Destination Coventry said visitor spending supported 8,330 full-time jobs in the city during 2025.

Destination Coventry Three people stand in a pedestrianised area in Coventry city centre holding a large sign that reads “£1 Billion Economic Value for Coventry”. Behind them is Coventry Cathedral, with its distinctive sandstone exterior, large entrance steps and bronze statue visible in the background. The sign also includes the words “Record Visitor Economy Breaks £1 Billion”. — More than 12.6 million people visited Coventry in 2025, according to new figures

There was also a large rise in people using non-serviced accommodation, such as Airbnb properties and rented accommodation, increasing by 14.3%.

Food and drink accounted for 33% of tourism spending in the city, while shopping made up 29%.

Recreation, including spending on museums, galleries and events, accounted for 11%.

Lynnette Kelly, Coventry City Council's cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said the figures demonstrated the importance of tourism to the local economy.

"Reaching this milestone reflects the strength and diversity of what the city has to offer, with our attractions, events, hospitality and cultural experiences all contributing to a thriving visitor economy," she said.

McMahon said he expected visitor numbers to continue growing.

"There are a lot of events happening, both in leisure and the business world, and I think we'll be in a good place over the coming years," he said.

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