Tourism boost for District
New figures show the tourism sector brought in almost £240 million to Blaby District last year, despite a challenging environment.
Across the whole county the sector in 2025 was worth a staggering £2.676 billion, up by 4.62% on the 2024 figure of £2.558 billion. Blaby District's share was £239.51 million.
The latest statistics for 2025 reveal visitor numbers across the District were 3.15 million, up on the 3.12 million recorded in 2024.
With the sector facing significant cost increases this rise, while slight, is a positive sign. National figures from Visit England showed domestic tourism across England struggled in the first half of 2025, with trips down 7% compared to 2024.
The most popular attraction of 2025 in Blaby District was The Victory Show (pictured). This is the UK's biggest World War II reenactment event hosted at Foxlands Farm in Cosby and in 2025 was celebrating its 20th anniversary. It brought in 18,000 visitors from not only all over the UK but also 13 other countries including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Other events boosting local tourism included Festival in the Den, Glastonblaby, Lubbfest, Archers Festive Tractor Run, plus lots of summer fetes, craft fairs, firework displays and markets.
The events section on the Visit Blaby website proved extremely popular and received more than 10,000 page views, double the number in 2024.
The Council supports tourism through working with businesses, stakeholders and promotional partners including Visit Leicester and Visit England.
The Tourism Growth Plan 2025-2030 underpins the work, with ambitions to grow two tourism targets – economic impact and visitor numbers – by 10% by the end of the plan.
As well as being acknowledged as a key driver of economic growth, tourism also allows the District to enhance its profile and reputation as a great place to live, visit and invest in.
Councillor Nick Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Community and Economic Development, said: "I'm delighted we are bucking the national trend and seeing a rise in visitor numbers. The positive effects of a thriving tourism offering are often overlooked but it not only boosts our local economy, it also supports jobs and businesses and puts the District on the map, both regionally and nationally and even internationally. It is also a source of increased civic pride."
The tourism figures for Leicester and Leicestershire, including Blaby District, are taken from the 2025 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) survey. A full 12 months of data is needed before the figures can be compiled, so the data always relates to the previous year.
The STEAM data model is a trusted measure used by destinations throughout the UK. The model uses data from local sources such as hotels and attractions to estimate the number of visitors, revenue and jobs supported by tourism.
Councillor Nick Chapman
Portfolio Holder for Community and Economic Development