Get the facts
Each year, we commission Global Tourism Solutions (UK) Ltd. to estimate the economic impact of tourism in the National Park and surrounding area of influence, through the use of STEAM (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor).
STEAM uses locally-derived data from a variety of sources including tourist information centres, visitor attractions and events, accommodation bedstock and occupancy rates. Data is analysed to produce estimates of the number of visitors, visitor days, employment supported by tourism, and revenue generated.
It is not designed to provide a precise and accurate measurement of tourism in a local area, but rather to provide an indicative base for monitoring trends. The confidence level of the model is calculated to be within the ranges of plus or minus 10% in respect of the yearly outputs and plus or minus 5% in respect of trend. Through the STEAM model, we are able to look at underlying trends stretching back to 1992.
STEAM 2025
Headline figures for 2025 outlining tourism trends for the National Park and its Influence Area:
- A total of £1.13 billion was generated directly and indirectly within the local economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure, an increase of 2.2% on 2024.
- 9.8 million tourism visits to the North York Moors National Park
- 15 million visitor days and nights generated by visitors, an increase of 4.6% on 2024.
- 7.9 million tourism visits made by day visitors
- Day visits to the North York Moors National Park generated £425 million for the local economy
- 1.9 million visits were made by visitors staying within the area as part of a holiday or short break, generating 7.1 million nights in local accommodation
- In total, staying visitors generate an economic impact of £705 million for local businesses and communities
- On average, visitors staying in the North York Moors spend 3.7 nights in the area and spend a total of £197 million on local accommodation
- Visitor activity and spend supports more than 11,510 full time equivalent jobs locally
If you would like to see a copy of the '2025 year in review summary', please email tourism@northyorkmoors.org.uk.
You can also access a wealth of information on visitors to England via VisitBritain’s Research Insights.