National Overview

England’s tourism sector contributes £106 billion to the British economy (GDP) when its direct and indirect impacts are taken into account – and it supports 2.6 million jobs. When only its direct impacts are considered (excluding aspects such as the supply chain, for example), its contribution is £48 billion – supporting 1.4 million jobs.

In 2019, the tourism and hospitality sector in the UK accounted for 7% of GDP and 11% of all jobs. It is the UK’s third-largest employer, supporting 3.2 million people as well as 1.5 million in the supply chain. 

The sector generates £130 billion in turnover per year – double the size of financial services and more than the automotive, pharmaceuticals and aerospace sectors combined. The UK’s inbound tourism and hospitality is bigger than UK’s Food & Beverage exports combined.

It contributes £39 billion in tax, equivalent to the entire UK defence or social care budget and, pre-pandemic, the hospitality industry was growing at a rate of 4.5% (compared to 1% growth in the wider economy) and creating 1 in 6 net new jobs.

More information at www.visitbritain.org/value-tourism-england