Yorkshire gains £30m tourism boost
A £30 million investment is being seen as a trigger to transform Yorkshire and Humber’s tourism economy into one of the most powerful sectors in the region.
The funding from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward will be used as a catalyst to attract new public and private sector funds.
It will also help better co-ordinate existing investment in tourism, which is expected to result in a £300 million increase in regional visitor spend per year, according to the Yorkshire Tourist Board.
One of the main priorities is to update the region’s image to attract new visitors.
The Yorkshire Tourist Board aims to achieve this by showcasing examples of the region’s transformed towns and cities, such as Sheffield, which has benefited from significant public and private investment in recent years.
Similarly, traditional tourism destinations such as Scarborough have a new face to sell to the world, having just been announced as the most enterprising in Britain.
The investment is the most significant ever in the region’s tourism industry, with an increased investment from Yorkshire and Humber’s Regional Development Agency of 59% a year over the next three years.
Tourism already employs 243,500 people in Yorkshire and Humber and contributes £6.1 billion to the economy.
Yorkshire Tourist Board chief executive Gary Verity said: “The visitor economy in Yorkshire and Humber involves almost everyone.
“As well as tourism businesses and the local authorities who help make the region the great place it is to visit, everyone who lives here has a part to play in promoting what we have and encouraging visitors to spend their money here.
“But we need strong leadership and clear messages that everyone understands and promotes, and it is our job to provide that leadership and focus for the industry.
“On the back of Yorkshire Forward’s investment, Yorkshire Tourist Board and our regional tourism partners are committed to taking tourism to the next level which is an extremely exciting proposition.
“We will capitalise upon our strengths and build upon our rich heritage but reinvigorate our image to promote our diverse and contemporary tourism offering.
“Our energy and drive in marketing and promoting the region will push the boundaries of tradition to the limit and catapult Yorkshire and Humber centre stage to a global market.â€
Terry Hodgkinson, chair of Yorkshire Forward, said: “Tourism is a significant driver in Yorkshire and Humber’s economy and represents one of the largest sectors in the region which is why we are making this investment to grow this further.
“Yorkshire Forward’s increased investment is testimony to the significance and growing importance of the tourism sector in the regional economy.â€
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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