Value of tourism to county hits record high according to latest figures

This is a 6.6 per cent rise on the previous year and a total increase of over 20 per cent since 2012.

The latest research into the performance of the tourism industry, conducted by Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor, also shows that the economic impact of tourism in Leicestershire in 2015 was £1.099 billion compared to £1.030 billion in 2014.

It was also found that 32.81 million tourists visited Leicester and Leicestershire in 2015, an increase from

30.41 million in 2014. Tourism supported over 21,441 jobs in Leicester and Leicestershire in 2015, an increase from 20,716 in the previous year.

Martin Peters, chief executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, said: “Leicester and Leicestershire have been increasingly in the national and international spotlight over the last couple of years since the discovery and subsequent reinterment of King Richard III and last season’s remarkable Premier League triumph by Leicester City.

“These latest figures show that the growth curve has remained consistently positive over previous years and we are confident that this period of sustained growth for the industry will continue.”