Volume and Value
The Peak District saw visitor volumes hit a record high in 2017, with 13.24 million visitor days recorded representing a growth in visitor days of 11.6% since 2009. Tourism expenditure also reached record levels, with £643 million generated from Tourism in 2017. Representing a real term growth of 12% since 2009.
Volume of visits to the Peak District are increasing
The Peak District attracts 11.91 million visitor days per annum and 13.24 million to the wider influence area. Using STEAM data only, this makes the Peak District the fifth most visited national park in England [5]. However, in reality, tourist numbers for the Peak District are much higher as Leisure Day visitors are not counted as part of the STEAM model.
Overall, for the Peak District and influence area, this represents an increase of 11.6% of visitor days between 2009 and 2017 [3]. Comparable time series data for all national parks in England is not yet available for 20 17. Absolute tourist numbers have also increased (2009-2017), and, importantly for the tourism economy, there has been a growth in the proportion of overnight staying visitors to the area (4.5% growth between 2009-2017) [3].
Two out of five visits to the countryside involve a national park in England
A Visit England study [6] in 2014-2015 showed there were 3.81 million domestic overnight trips in England per year that involved visiting a national park. In addition, there were nearly 53 million day visits that involved visiting a national park, 4% of all tourism day visits in England and 19% of domestic day trips to countryside & villages, with an associated spending of over £1.5 billion.
Unlike STEAM, the Visit England study used data from consumer surveys (demand side data). This led to the difference in overall volume figures produced. However, it provides a useful context of visit patterns of domestic tourism and visits to the countryside as a whole.
More people are frequently visiting nature than ever before
The pattern of growth in Peak District visitor volume is reflected in the Monitor Engagement Natural Environment survey, which shows more people are visiting the natural environment than ever before [7]. Between March 2017 to February 2018, around three in five adults living in England (62%) reported taking visits to the natural environment at least once a week. Half (49%) of visits were taken to natural places within a town or city (Figure 7) while 39% were taken to the countryside and 12% to a beach or other coastal location.
Seasonal trends in the Peak District
Both tourist day visitors and staying visitors follow a distinct seasonal pattern peaking in the summer months from May to September. The peaks in August and September are likely due to the impact of large organised events such as the Bakewell Show and the school holidays.
Like many areas and destinations similar to the Peak District, tourist numbers, or volume, is highly seasonal. However, the geographical location of the Peak District means this area will always attract large volumes of people for short periods throughout the year. This puts pressure on local services, communities and the environment especially in the high peak season through the summer.
Value of visits to the Peak District is showing growth
Long term trends (between 2009 and 2017) in the Peak District show the overall economic impact of tourism has increased by 41.5% in the Peak District and influence area and by 12.0% indexed to price inflation 2017 [3]. The total economic impact stands at an estimated £644 million, which is measured by two categories: direct (income derived from expenditure) and indirect (secondary expenditure) revenue. Both categories have increased by 10% over the last 3 years [3].
In terms of other English national parks, the Peak District share by area accounted for 12% of the total economic impact in 2015 (£4983 million per annum) [5].
Visitor spend in the Peak District
Staying visitors spend and contribute more to the economy per person overall than tourist day visitors. Of the total economic impact of tourism (£644 million), staying visitors contribute 51% compared with day visitors 49%. The economic impact of a day visitor (per person) is £36.49 compared with £71.47 for a staying visitor (per visitor day).
Given that the average length of stay of a staying visitor is 4.0 (measured in days), the total impact of a staying visitor is £284.62 (per person) and much higher than that of a day visitor. Compared with the Visit England Survey 2014 [6], the Peak District performs around average with the Domestic Overnight Stay (Per Day) £62, Inbound Overnight Stay (Per Day) £85 and Domestic Day Visitor (Per Day) £34 [3].
Employment supported by tourism
In 2017, employment supported by tourism was 9,952 jobs, representing a large proportion of the Peak District employment market. However, jobs in this industry can often be low skilled and seasonal. Employment supported by tourism has increased by 3.1% between 2009 and 2017 [3]. Between 2012 and 2015, growth in the jobs market has slowed to -0.5% below the English national park average of 4.8% growth [5].
Tourism economy in England is on the rise
Since 2010, tourism has been the fastest growing sector in the UK in employment terms. Estimates suggest the visitor economy is worth £106 billion in England with the sector supporting some 2.6 million jobs. Britain is forecast to have a tourism industry worth over £257 billion by 2025 [6].
Taking into account direct and indirect impacts (including aspects like the supply chain), tourism in England contributes £106 billion to the British economy (GDP) and supports 2.6 million jobs. Looking at direct impacts only, tourism still contributes £48 billion, supporting 1.4 million jobs. In 2011, there were 208,880 VAT registered businesses in England in tourism sectors, including accommodation, food and drink, transport, travel agencies, cultural activities and more [9].
In 2017, British residents spent £19.0 billion on 100.6 million overnight trips in England, adding up to a total of 299.4 million nights away from home. £50.9 billion was spent on 1.5 billion domestic tourism day trips. Overseas visitors to England spent £19.7 billion in 2016, making 33 million trips and staying for 246 million nights [9].
1.6 billion day trips were taken to English destinations in 2016, with spending totalling £53.5 billion [9].
Wider Peak District & Local Enterprise Partnership D2N2
The Local Enterprise Partnership, D2N2, have strategic plans for growth and funding priorities to grow the rural visitor economy. The visitor accommodation sector is a major contributor to the D2N2 economy and is of vital importance for future tourism growth and employment creation [10]. A strong visitor economy is important to the economic health of the Derbyshire Dales. Generating an estimated £315m [7] in visitor spend, it provides employment, offers business opportunities and helps sustain local services – but there is room for growth. To grow the value of the sector, visitors need to be encouraged to spend more when they come. The visitor economy sector employs almost 52,000 in the D2N2 area, and there is the potential to increase employment by increasing opportunities and markets, such as the growth of cycling as a leisure pursuit, such as Eroica and the Monsal Trail development [11].
How many people visit the National Park? And where exactly are they? Volume visits to protected areas like national parks are difficult to measure. Further research is needed to investigate the actual levels of visitors to the Peak District National Park. One area of promise is mobile telecom data.
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