Tourism's economic impact in Ceredigion rose by 7.4 percent last year, with visitor numbers reaching a decade high, although employment in the sector declined.

Tourism contributed an estimated £567 million to Ceredigion's economy in 2025, but the industry supported fewer jobs despite attracting its highest number of visitors in a decade.

New figures published by Ceredigion County Council reveal that the economic impact of tourism increased by 7.4 percent compared with 2024, when the figure stood at approximately £528 million. Visitor numbers also climbed, from 2.87 million in 2024 to 3.01 million in 2025, an increase of around 140,000.

The total exceeded the 2.94 million visitors recorded in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the industry.

However, the growth did not translate into an increase in tourism employment. The number of jobs supported by the sector fell from an estimated 5,535 in 2024 to 5,456 last year, a reduction of 79.

The contrasting figures appear in the council's latest Medium-Term Financial Strategy, which was considered by councillors on Thursday, 22 October.

The authority suggests that the employment decline could reflect improvements in productivity, difficulties recruiting workers or changes in the types of tourism activities attracting visitors. However, the figures do not establish which of these factors is responsible.

Tourism remains an important part of Ceredigion's economy, particularly in coastal communities such as Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay and Cardigan, where businesses rely heavily on visitor spending.

The latest figures also highlight the industry's recovery from the pandemic.

In 2020, visitor numbers fell to approximately 1.31 million, while the estimated economic impact was substantially reduced. By 2025, that economic impact had risen by 126.5 percent compared with the pandemic year.

The figures, compiled using the STEAM tourism economic impact model, suggest a stronger visitor economy overall, although its expansion has not been accompanied by equivalent growth in employment.