Firm plans to bring more tourists to region

REAL YORKSHIRE DMC, a newly launched specialist travel company based in Leeds, is among the projects that will receive funding from the Government’s £40m Discover England Fund.

Real Yorkshire DMC will provide luxury, fully-escorted Yorkshire tours through the travel trade in North America and other international markets.

A spokesman said: “Yorkshire is gaining popularity as a global tourism destination in its own right and Real Yorkshire DMC wants to capitalise on this.”

The business has been founded by Tim Barber and Lyndsey Thomas from Leeds, who is also the owner of Leeds-based tourism marketing agency, All About the Story Ltd.

Ms Thomas said: “My extensive tourism sector experience, specifically in tourism product development and marketing, and Tim’s incredible knowledge of Yorkshire’s history and geography, is a winning combination, and we are over the moon to have secured this grant which will allow us to take our tours to key international markets.

“Our target markets for year one are: the US, Canada and Australia, with a strong focus on the ‘silver pound’ segment followed by the high-earning family market.”

She added: “Our end users are those international visitors who don’t want the hassle of researching and booking many components to create their trip, but want a company with the inside knowledge needed to put an itinerary or tour together on their behalf.”

Mr Barber said: “Most of Real Yorkshire Tour’s bookings come from visitors from the US, Canada and Australia who find us online and want to ensure they see the best of Yorkshire without any hassle.”

Sir Gary Verity, the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “Yorkshire had a record 2017 for overseas visitors and all the signs are that 2018 is set to be another bumper year for inbound visitors with visitors already hailing from Australia, Singapore, Brazil and Canada to name but a few.

“It’s great news that Real Yorkshire DMC has received funding to develop these new and exciting packaged holidays.”

Visitors want to ensure they see the best of Yorkshire without any hassle. Tim Barber, co-founder of Real Yorkshire DMC.

LUXURY TOURS: Lyndsey Thomas and Tim Barber, founders of Real Yorkshire DMC, the specialist tracel company which is to receive support from the Discover England Fund.