Sustainable tourism in Warwickshire
Warwickshire's approach to tourism has always been rooted in the quality of what the county offers rather than the volume of visitors it attracts. That approach aligns naturally with the principles of sustainable tourism - and the evidence suggests it is working. In 2024, over 15.5 million trips were made to the county, with overnight visitors contributing 42% of total visitor spending despite representing fewer than one in ten of all trips. Spending per night is rising, reflecting growing demand for higher quality, lower impact experiences.
Warwickshire County Council's own strategy sets out a clear ambition for inclusive, environmentally responsible growth. The county's canals, reservoirs, greenways, market towns and open countryside are identified as powerful motivators for visitors who prioritise environmentally conscious travel - and a growing number of the county's visitor-facing businesses are leading by example, building sustainability into how they operate rather than treating it as an add-on.
Warwickshire's approach to tourism and sustainable growth is set out in the Economic Growth Strategy for Warwickshire 2024–2034.
Travelling sustainably in Warwickshire
Warwickshire's landscape lends itself naturally to low-impact exploration. Four traffic-free greenways follow former railway lines through open countryside, alongside canals and through wildlife-rich habitats. Over 100 miles of canal towpath offer car-free walking and cycling routes connecting market towns and villages. The county's five country parks are within easy reach of the main settlements and offer everything from waterside birdwatching to ancient woodland walks.
The county council's own green spaces attracted close to a million visitors in 2023–24 - evidence that nature-led, low-impact tourism is not a niche interest but a mainstream preference that Warwickshire is well placed to meet.
Support for Tourism Businesses in Warwickshire
The Warwickshire Business Growth Service (WBGS) provides free, impartial business support to help tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses start, grow and adapt. Our team can support you with business planning, growth advice, access to finance, skills, sustainability, and connecting you to wider opportunities across the county.
Alongside local support, we also encourage tourism businesses to make use of the high‑quality sector‑specific training and events offered by VisitBritain. Their programme includes practical guidance on topics such as international markets, accessibility, sustainability, digital marketing, product development and working with travel trade.
Explore current tourism training and events.
Combining local business support through WBGS with national tourism expertise from VisitBritain can help strengthen your offer, reach new audiences and maximise the value of the visitor economy in Warwickshire.
If your business has sustainability credentials you'd like to share on this page, please get in touch at tourism@warwickshire.gov.uk.