Vale tourism boom generates £381.9m for local economy
More than six million people visited the Vale of Glamorgan in 2025, generating an estimated £381.88 million for the local economy and supporting almost 3,000 jobs.
New figures from the Vale of Glamorgan Council reveal a growing visitor economy, with tourism’s total economic impact rising by 5.2 per cent over the previous year.
Visitor numbers also increased by 2.9 per cent, reaching an estimated 6.07 million during 2025.
The Vale welcomed around 640,000 overnight visitors, an increase of 8.6 per cent, while 3.74 million day visitors travelled to the area - up 1.9 per cent.
Tourism is now estimated to support 2,918 full-time equivalent jobs across the Vale, an increase of two per cent.
The findings also underline the strength of the Vale’s natural attractions, with visitors identifying the coast and natural environment as the area’s biggest assets.
Cllr Bronwen Brooks, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Places, said: “More than six million visits in a single year is a significant milestone, and it is particularly encouraging to see such strong growth in overnight visitors. It shows that the Vale is not just a destination for a quick visit; hundreds of thousands of visitors are choosing to stay, take their time and truly experience the wealth of what we have to offer.
“Our coastline, countryside and natural environment are clearly a huge part of our appeal, and we want visitors to feel welcome, to create lasting memories and to leave with a real sense of what makes our part of Wales so unique. As we look to the future, our ambition is to build on this success in a way that celebrates and protects the things that make the Vale special, ensuring it remains a wonderful place to visit, work and live for generations to come.”
While the figures show continued growth, the research also points to opportunities to strengthen the visitor economy further.
The Vale remains predominantly a day-trip and short-break destination – with a high proportion of visitors coming from within Wales - highlighting the potential to attract more international and multi-night stays in the future.