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.
Celebrating English Tourism Week 2025 in Exeter
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
South West Visitor Economy Hub News
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:
- Double page spread display advertisement or advertorial £975.00 + VAT
- Full page display advertisement or advertorial £525.00 + VAT
- Half page display advertisement or advertorial £275.00 + VAT
- Quarter page advertisement £150.00 + VAT
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
Visit Exeter Business Support Members
We are pleased to be working with the following Business Support members: