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Welcome to the Visit Exeter members area. Managed by Exeter City Council, Visit Exeter is the official organisation responsible for the promotion of Exeter as a visitor destination. Our aim is to increase visitor trips and spend in the city, by positioning Exeter as a year round sustainable destination for a day visit, city break, business trip or group visit. Find out more about our recent marketing campaigns here.
If you are a business in or close to Exeter and would like to sign up, find out more here.
The South West Visitor Economy Hub have summarised their key findings for Devon and Somerset in May 2025, with year-on-year trends.
Overall, good weather has had a positive impact on visitor numbers in May, including overnight visitors with Devon serviced accommodation occupancy up 8 percentage points to 82%. However, self-catering in both counties has not fared so well. Occupancy has been flat or slightly down year-on-year due to higher average daily rates, which are potentially exceeding more people's budgets.
Also, the proportion of visitors staying with friends and relatives (VFR) in Devon is up to 16% (+3 percentage points) compared to 2024 - this low-cost, cost-of-living beating option being no doubt encouraged by the weather too.
View the May report for Devon here.
Businesses can log onto the South West Visitor Economy Hub for a more detailed look at the data in your area.
With June fast approaching, we’re excited to share details for the launch of June Boom — Exeter’s month-long celebration of arts, culture, music, and creativity.
Please see the following links to a set of resources to help you engage with and amplify the campaign:
Launched during English Tourism Week in 2017, Visit Exeter has since grown into a powerhouse brand, championing businesses in Exeter and beyond. As we celebrate eight successful years this English Tourism Week (14th – 23rd March 2025), we’re gearing up for an extraordinary summer with the Women's Rugby World Cup coming to the city!
The arrival of the Women’s Rugby World Cup to Exeter this August and September presents a huge opportunity for the visitor economy. Exeter will be seen by a global audience of millions, and thousands of tickets for the matches at Sandy Park have already been bought by fans across the country. Plans are being put in place to make sure the tournament is a huge success for the city and will leave a lasting legacy.
Exeter is one of the top 12 ‘destination cities’ in the UK[1]. It receives in excess of 2 million annual visitors, worth an estimated £206 million to the local economy[2] and supports 2,500 direct jobs. It consistently ranks in the top 1% of retail destinations nationally and regionally[3], with the 4th highest retail spend per overnight visitor in the UK.
Visit Exeter is funded through commercial income, with the support of Exeter City Council. Our membership scheme unites over 180 businesses, including hotels, attractions, shops, cafes, and restaurants. We deliver impactful marketing campaigns, press and PR, email outreach, and social media initiatives, working in partnership with city stakeholders to drive growth in Exeter's visitor economy.
Our website, www.visitexeter.com, has seen remarkable growth, with nearly half a million visitors in 2024 alone. Recent research highlights Exeter's growing appeal, with visitors travelling from further afield than ever before. Visits from over an hour away have surged by 1.7 million, and the average drivetime has increased from 49 to 57 minutes.
Councillor Bob Foale, Lead Councillor for Arts, Culture and Tourism said:
"Devon has England’s third-largest visitor economy, and as its capital city, there is huge potential for Exeter to benefit further from additional year-round visitors. The visitor economy plays a key part in supporting other industries in the city, including retail and food & drink. It also brings social and environmental benefits, by strengthening cultural ties, boosting local pride and encouraging a culture of preservation."
In 2024, we were proud to become part of the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Devon, officially recognised by VisitEngland. This partnership gives us a platform to share priorities, resources, and targets across the county. It also gives us a clear pathway to central government, to allow the voices of Exeter and Devon businesses to be heard. The LVEP's ambitious vision aims to boost Devon's visitor economy by over £300 million annually by 2030.
We're also embracing digital innovation to fuel growth. Our collaboration with DataThistle, the UK's leading live events data business, launched post-Covid, is driving people back into Exeter's cultural venues. This integration showcases live events on our website, enhancing the visitor experience.
Plans for the future include a strategy to consider how Exeter’s culture can continue to support the visitor economy, ensuring the city’s cultural and heritage attractions, festivals and events can enhance the city’s reputation as a high quality, sustainable visitor destination.
Find out more about the work of Visit Exeter here, or contact Claire Toze, Tourism Manager: claire.toze@exeter.gov.uk.
[1] Centre for Cities: Spending time: The role of the visitor economy in UK cities. A ‘destination city’ is one which is over-reliant on visitors, who support a broader range of amenities than the local population alone would be able to
[2] 2023 Exeter Visitor Volume & Value Data
[3] CACI InExeterMarket Summary – September 2024
The South West Visitor Economy Hub is now live and the team are in the process of onboarding local tourism businesses. The data and insight we will all receive will be invaluable to the visitor economy in Devon and Somerset.
Find out more on the website here and sign up for the data hub free of charge.
We are once again working with Exeter Living on their Spring / Summer edition of The Exeter Guide, which will be published w/c 14th April. This ultimate A4 magazine includes exciting information on events throughout the summer in Exeter, plus inspirational ideas for dining out, shopping and visiting local attractions.
The Exeter Guide showcases the city and is a great opportunity to advertise your business, and welcome more visitors this Spring / Summer.
Copies of The Exeter Guide are distributed across the city in selected venues, attractions and city hotels.
Advertising rates are as follows:
A free advertisement design service is included in the price if required. The artwork and content deadline is on the 28th March. View the artwork specification sheet here.
View copies of the previous edition on the links below:
If you have any questions or would like to book please do not hesitate to get in touch with paula.miller@clearskypublishing.co.uk or call Paula on 07563 529772
We are pleased to be working with the following Business Support members:
Number of results: 9
Lightbear Lane is a creative arts, cultural heritage practice, and consultancy for the promotion of the arts in heritage, nature and community spaces in Exeter.
Royal Devon Hospitals Charity is the official charity of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The charity’s mission is to provide facilities over and above what’s possible with NHS funding. We’re helping to power up…
Torquay
The Princess Theatre, Torquay, showcasing the best West End and touring productions from across the UK.
You Can Sauna are bringing an authentic sauna experience to Haldon Forest Park, near Exeter and Newton Abbot in South Devon.
Exeter
Our nursery group has the shared vision of providing quality early education and care in safe, happy and stimulating environments. We aim to provide activities, resources, experiences and opportunities that allow children to develop holistically.
Just minutes from Exeter city centre, Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital provides fast access to expert care in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. We specialise in orthopaedic surgery, with leading consultants and advanced technology, including…
Sentinel Private Healthcare is part of our Community Interest Company offering a range of private services which are not generally offered by the NHS or can be difficult to access. Our primary aim is to support local Primary Care and Sentinel’s CIC…
Exeter
Founded in 1995 and built on the practices and principles of traditional Independent Estate Agency, Wilkinson Grant & Co are firmly established as one of the leading Estate Agencies in the South West Property market.
www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk
Plymouth
We are a full-service Marketing Agency working with businesses large and small across the country.
Copyright 2025 Visit Exeter. All Rights Reserved
Travel to Exeter by train, with Great Western Railway. Get inspiration with one of our suggested rail itineraries.
The city is divided into distinct areas, or quarters, each with its own individual identity and something different to offer.
Read the latest blogs here, including guest articles and top tips from locals!
The Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 is coming to Exeter! Find out more information and register your interest in tickets.
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