Wales Visitor Economy Profile: 2024

Employment and employee jobs in 2022

Tourism Industries accounted for 11.8% of employment (159,000) in Wales in 2022, an increase from 151,000 in 2020 (11.3% of employment in Wales) during which time overall employment levels in Wales remained unchanged. 77% of tourism employment (123,000) was in hospitality. The sub-sector accounting for the largest proportion of employment in 2022 was Food and Beveraging Service Activities with 6.8% (91,000) of employment in Wales followed by Accommodation for Visitors with 1.9% (26,000). 55% of employee jobs in tourism in 2022 were part time, compared with just 35% of employee jobs in all industries. 

Earnings in 2023

The median hourly pay in the financial year ending April 2023 was £14.85 in Wales, but within tourism-related industries it was substantially lower. Among employee jobs in Accommodation and Food Service Activities the median hourly pay was £10.99. 

Enterprises in 2023

Tourism enterprises (12,625) accounted for 11.8% of registered enterprises in Wales in 2023. 80% (10,065) of tourism enterprises were in hospitality, accounting for 9.4% of enterprises registered in Wales.

Gross Value Added (GVA)

Combined, the seven tourism-related industries at SIC division level accounted for 5.1% of GVA in Wales in 2022 (£3.8 billion). GVA for these SIC divisions has increased in recent years, from 4.6% of Wales GVA in 2015 (£2.7 billion).