Visitor numbers to North East Lincolnshire go up

There's been an increase in the number of visitors to North East Lincolnshire.

Newly released figures for 2023 show a rise for the third year in a row to 8.6 million people.

That's the highest since the pandemic but still below the 10.3 million seen in 2019.

It's thought wet weather through parts of the summer impacted visits to Cleethorpes promenade to a certain extent.

There was however little year on year change in overnight stays.

On the positive side there was an increase in tourism related jobs whilst Meridian Showground saw increased events and other attractions saw a rise in visitor numbers.

Here are the stats in a nutshell:

8.682m total number of visitors in 2023 – up one per cent on 2022

Overnight visitor stays in local accommodation were down 4.5 per cent, to 2.85m nights

6,473 jobs linked to tourism – the highest since 7,160 in 2019

Economic impact of tourism £697m – up ten per cent compared to 2022

Victoria Street, Grimsby, had almost 3.35m recorded visitors – a third yearly increase in a row

The Prom, Cleethorpes, was down on the year before, from 1.71m visitors to 1.57m – but bad weather in July and August identified as a factor

St Peter’s Avenue, Cleethorpes, still saw an uptick in visitors to 1.57m

With the showground, obviously, we’re trying to put on as many events as possible throughout the year

Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre had a successful year, with over 64,000 visitors – up six per cent on the year before. The Ross Tiger had 4,500 visitors after reopening in March.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s economy, tourism and culture scrutiny panel were provided with the figures, and a summary of efforts to attract more visitors to the area.

Councillors welcomed the mostly positive outlook. “They’re the sort of thing we should maybe be publicising a little bit more.”

Cllr Trevor Crofts advocated, instead of “keyboard warriors” being allowed to give a different impression of the area.

“With the showground, obviously, we’re trying to put on as many events as possible throughout the year,” a council officer said of the Meridian Showground.

Visitors to The Prom in July and August 2023 were sharply down, by 27 per cent to a total of 387,000, on the year before

The council-run Cleethorpes venue held 19 events in 2023, up from 15 the year before.

This included seven new events, such as a dog agility competition, and Fireworks Fantasia. The showground was hired out for 87 days in 2023.

Armed Forces Weekend was, as usual, the most well-attended event in North East Lincolnshire, according to event organiser estimates. It had 210,000 attendees. Grim Falfest had an attendance of 19,500, and the Great Grimsby Christmas Festival 14,500.

Visitors to The Prom in July and August 2023 were sharply down, by 27 per cent to a total of 387,000, on the year before.

But these months had “particularly poor periods of weather" a council report said.

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