Yorkshire set for tourist topspotYorkshire is on its way to becoming the UK’s top holiday destination according to figures out today.

The official tourism agency, Welcome to Yorkshire is working to grow the region’s visitor economy and today it revealed it has exceeded the target and the money spent by visitors in Yorkshire for 2009 has increased by 13%. (United Kingdom Tourism Survey – UKTS).

Welcome to Yorkshire say if this growth continues the region could see an increase of £744 million being spent by visitors for the year.

The results also show that Yorkshire was the fastest growing region during 2009 in attracting UK visitors compared to all other regions in the country, with the number of visitors up by a staggering 31% during the summer of 2009.

Gary Verity, Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive says: “I’m over the moon. This is an outstanding result. The hard work of the Welcome to Yorkshire team has paid off big time”.

Welcome to Yorkshire was launched last year with £30m funding over three years from the Government agency Yorkshire Forward. They set a target of growing the amount of money visitors spend in the region by 5%. Following the biggest ever marketing campaign to promote Yorkshire in the UK and overseas, which includes the branding of the Hull & Humber Clipper yacht and a campaign in the Far East, the organisation has today released figures to show dramatic growth.

Tourism is fast becoming one of the most important economies in the region with the estimated value of tourism to the region having increased from £6.3billion to £6.5billion. It’s estimated a quarter of a million people in the region now work in tourism related jobs.

Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward commented; “We know Yorkshire and Humber is a world class holiday destination and Welcome to Yorkshire has been key to promoting this both within the UK and internationally, with excellent results. Their high profile campaign has had a real impact in bringing more visitors to the region; providing a boost to Yorkshire and Humber’s economy and ensuring the tourism industry goes from strength to strength – all in the middle of a recession”.

Gary Verity adds: “The news shows how well we have been outperforming other UK destinations. London for example has had a tough year, it seems people want a great deal and they know that’s exactly what they’ll receive in Yorkshire. This is just the start; we plan to make our region the top destination in the UK”.

“The timing couldn’t be better. Our aim is to keep Yorkshire in the hearts and minds of people looking to book half term activities, Easter breaks and their summer holidays. The next stage of our marketing campaign goes live this week and lets people know ‘there’s a great deal going on in Yorkshire’. The new television ads will target people within Yorkshire and those outside the region to drum the message home. The campaign also includes national newspaper advertising and outdoor promotions in main London stations”.

Rosie Winterton, the Minister for Yorkshire and The Humber, adds: “These figures are fantastic news.  It’s very exciting to see that despite the recent recession, tourism in our region is going from strength to strength backed by a £30 million investment from Yorkshire Forward. 

“I congratulate the team at Welcome to Yorkshire and everyone in the tourism industry who deliver such an attractive and world class offer to our visitors – and I am sure our unique Yorkshire Welcome will ensure our tourism industry continues to grow.”

Welcome to Yorkshire will be revealing more about the success of the last year and ambitious plans for 2010 at the biggest tourism event to be stage in the region, the Y 10 conference on 22nd March at Harrogate International Centre. Anyone interested in attending should contact log onto www.welcometoyorkshire.net/Y10/Y10.aspx or contacting Welcome to Yorkshire on 0113 322 3531. Tickets to Y 10 are FREE and will be issued on a first come first served basis.

Visitors to Leeds, the Yorkshire capital, can book car hire in Leeds with Sixt.

Source: Welcome to Yorkshire

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