My Planner
Currently nothing planned yet in your itinerary. Have a browse through the site and begin to add things you're interested in.
South West Research Company and the Economic Impact Reports are created each year for the year before. These reports examine the volume and value of tourism and the impact of visitor expenditure on the local economy in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley marketing area consists of the Forest of Dean local authority district and also extends into Monmouthshire and Herefordshire counties and a small section of Tewkesbury local authority district. Here is a short synopsis of the data from 2019 - 2022.
| Metric | 2019 | 2020 | % Change 2020-2019 | 2021 | % Change 2021-2020 | 2022 | % Change 2022-2021 | % Change 2022-2019 |
| Total Visitor Spend | ||||||||
| - UK | £112,929,000 | £57,121,000 | -49.20% | £97,290,000 | 68.80% | £117,089,000 | 20.20% | 3.30% |
| - Overseas | £49,218,000 | £8,701,000 | -82.50% | £7,607,000 | -12.60% | £47,722,000 | 525.60% | 96.50% |
| - Total | £162,147,000 | £65,822,000 | -59.20% | £104,897,000 | 60.20% | £164,811,000 | 9.50% | 1.70% |
| Total Visitor Nights | ||||||||
| - UK | 2,033,600 | 983,200 | -51.30% | 1,731,500 | 76.20% | 1,858,200 | 7.30% | -8.60% |
| - Overseas | 762,400 | 148,200 | -80.70% | 180,700 | 22.00% | 635,600 | 251.20% | 82.50% |
| - Total | 2,796,000 | 1,131,400 | -59.60% | 1,912,200 | 51.40% | 2,493,800 | 30.40% | -10.80% |
| Total Staying Trips | ||||||||
| - UK | 717,800 | 323,500 | -55.10% | 517,300 | 60.00% | 667,000 | 28.80% | -7.30% |
| - Overseas | 101,900 | 24,200 | -76.50% | 12,300 | -49.20% | 75,200 | 513.80% | -26.30% |
| - Total | 819,700 | 347,700 | -57.60% | 529,600 | 52.30% | 742,200 | 40.20% | -9.60% |
| Total Day Trip Spend | £207,486,000 | £101,600,000 | -51.10% | £166,652,000 | 63.90% | £189,932,000 | 13.90% | -9.00% |
| Total Day Trips | 6,231,000 | 3,131,000 | -49.80% | 4,864,000 | 55.30% | 5,123,000 | 5.30% | -17.90% |
2019 witnessed a robust tourism scene, with visitor expenditure exceeding £162 million, fuelled by both domestic and international travellers. Domestic holidaymakers formed the cornerstone, generating over £112 million, while overseas visitors contributed an additional £49 million to the local economy. Total visitor nights surpassed 2.7 million, underscoring the region's appeal as a captivating getaway.
Pandemic Downturn:
2020 presented a stark contrast. Visitor spending plummeted by a staggering 59%, with both domestic and international figures experiencing significant declines. Total visitor nights nearly halved, reflecting the impact of travel restrictions and diminished travel confidence. This downturn undoubtedly had a ripple effect on local businesses reliant on tourism revenue.
Glimmers of Recovery:
While 2021 did not mark a complete return to normalcy, it offered promising signs. Visitor spending climbed by 60% compared to 2020, primarily driven by a resurgence in domestic tourism. UK visitor nights also saw a significant increase, indicating a renewed interest in local escapes. However, international visitors remained scarce, highlighting the lingering challenges of international travel.
International Boom and Bust:
The most intriguing narrative lies with overseas visitors. While 2020 witnessed an 82.5% drop in their spending, 2022 brought a remarkable turnaround, with a staggering 525% increase compared to the previous year. This surge signifies a strong return of international interest, potentially fueled by pent-up demand and relaxed travel restrictions.
A Patchwork Rebound:
Despite the encouraging signs, a complete recovery remains elusive. Overall visitor spending in 2022 still falls short of pre-pandemic levels, and total visitor nights lag behind 2019 figures. While domestic tourism has shown resilience, the international market requires further nurturing to reach its full potential.
Key Statistics
|
Metric |
2019 |
2021 |
2022 |
% Change (2021-2022) |
% Change (2019-2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UK nights per trip |
2.83 |
3.35 |
2.79 |
-16.72% |
-1.41% |
|
UK spend per trip |
£157.33 |
£188.07 |
£175.55 |
-6.66% |
11.62% |
|
UK spend per night |
£55.53 |
£56.19 |
£63.01 |
12.14% |
13.50% |
|
Overseas nights per trip |
7.48 |
14.69 |
8.45 |
-42.48% |
12.90% |
|
Overseas spend per trip |
£483.00 |
£618.46 |
£634.60 |
2.61% |
31.30% |
|
Overseas spend per night |
£64.56 |
£42.10 |
£75.08 |
78.34% |
16.28% |
|
Average spend per day visit |
£33.30 |
N/A |
£37.07 |
N/A |
11.31% |
-
UK Trips: Visitors in 2022 took slightly shorter UK trips than in 2019 but spent more overall per trip. This indicates a potential focus on shorter but higher-value visits.
-
Overseas Recovery: While overseas visitors are taking slightly longer trips than in 2019, the average spend per night actually dipped dramatically after 2021. This might warrant investigation into if a different type of overseas tourist is visiting.
-
Day Visit Increase: Average spend per day visit shows a healthy increase compared to 2019, possibly suggesting day visitors are engaging in more activities and spending more while in the region.
There were some notable changes in visitor behaviour between 2021 and 2022. UK visitors took shorter trips and spent slightly less overall, but they also spent more per night. Overseas visitors also took shorter trips, but their spending habits remained relatively unchanged. It is important to note that the data for 2022 includes day trips, while the data for 2021 does not. This may explain some of the differences in spending patterns.
You can download the full report here.
Older Data
For those interested in the development of tourism in the area the following reports give further information.
- 2023 Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Stats at a Glance
- 2022 Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Stats at a Glance
- 2021 Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Economic Impact Report
- 2020 Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Economic Impact Report
- 2019 Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Economic Impact Report
- 2016 Value of Tourism for Forest of Dean
- Monmouthshire County Council Tourism Economic Impact 2015
- 2014 Value of Tourism for Forest of Dean
- 2013 Value of Tourism for Forest of Dean and The Year in context
- 2012 Value of Tourism for Forest of Dean
- 2011 Value of Tourism report for Forest of Dean
- 2010 Value of Tourism report for Forest of Dean
- 2009 Value of Tourism report for Forest of Dean
- 2008 Value of Tourism report for Forest of Dean
- 2008 Value of Tourism report for Gloucestershire and the districts
- 2007 Value of Tourism report for Gloucestershire and the districts
- 2006 Gloucestershire County Tourism Economic Impact Report
- 2006 Forest of Dean Tourism Economic Impact Report
- 2007-2017 Comparison for Forest of Dean
Find Out More About What We Do
Find Your Freedom
As the official Destination Management Organisation for the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley our aims are to raise awareness, grow tourism and promote our partners. We do this in a number of ways, find out what those are here.- Everything you need to know about becoming a partner of Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism and being listed on this website.
- Learn all about Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism, what we do, what tourism means to this area and how you can work with us.
©Visit Dean Wye 2024. All Rights Reserved.
*Visit Dean Wye is the trading name of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism Limited.
