Record summer for tourism in region
11,000 are now employed in industry
ECONOMY: The vast holiday area of the North York Moors National Park, Scarborough, Ryedale and the Yorkshire coast is set for a record-breaking summer season, tourism chiefs said after the value of the industry rocketed to £647m.
THE VAST holiday area of the North York Moors National Park, Scarborough, Ryedale and the Yorkshire coast is set for a recordbreaking summer season, tourism chiefs have predicted.
The news comes as the national park reveals figures showing that the value of its tourism has rocketed from £416m to £647m in the past seven years.
Catrina McLees, the park’s head of promotion and tourism, said: “We now have almost 11,000 people employed in the industry – up from 7,813 in 2010, and people are staying longer.
“It is marvellous news for the park’s economy and the many people and businesses which have invested in tourism.”
Ms McLees said the growing trend for people taking so-called ‘staycations’ – holidaying in Britain instead of opting for an overseas break – had contributed towards the success.
She added: “We are also benefiting from the exchange rates and it is particularly encouraging to see so many overseas visitors coming to our region. We are very, very happy with the results and all the signs for the future. We have seen four years of growth thanks to widespread promotion and television coverage for such events as the Tour de Yorkshire.” Welcome to Yorkshire’s tourism and marketing director for the park and the Yorkshire coast, Janet Deacon, was also buoyant about the summer season, which is about to get into full swing with the start of the school holidays.
“Many businesses are reporting not only excellent bookings now, but also in the future,” she said. “The signs are excellent for this year’s holiday business. Scarborough has been particularly successful so far, with so many top-line shows at the Open Air Theatre which have encouraged people to stay in the town.“
Mrs Deacon said Welcome to Yorkshire’s promotional efforts through marketing and television coverage had played a part in increased visitor numbers.
“Full hotels, guest houses, holiday centres and self catering means more jobs and a big fillip for the local economy,” she added.
A recent study by Leeds Beckett University showed this year’s Tour de Yorkshire cycle race boosted the region’s economy by £64m.
More than two million spectators lined the route of the event at the end of April.