Tourism businesses are being given the chance to highlight their priorities and fine-tune the first strategy of its kind to help to attract thousands more visitors to the county and support the multi-million pound industry.
The visitor economy is said to be a cornerstone of North Yorkshire’s economic vitality, bringing in more than £1.5 billion a year from domestic visits alone.
A new strategy aims to boost the visitor economy and support tens of thousands of workers who are employed in the sector, while also attracting a wider and more diverse range of visitors to the county.
The destination management plan is set to provide the first countywide approach to promoting the visitor economy following the launch of the council in April.
A series of events will be held this month to gather information and views from key organisations and enterprises involved in the visitor economy to help to shape a draft document for the destination management plan.
Council leader Carl Les said: “The visitor economy is so important to North Yorkshire, and we are proud to give everyone who comes to the county the warmest of welcomes.
“It is vital that we take into account the views of all those businesses and partner organisations which are involved in the visitor economy to help to develop the destination management plan.
“This is such a key moment for North Yorkshire as we develop the first countywide strategy to promote the visitor economy, and we are committed to supporting the sector while attracting more visitors to enjoy what is such a wonderful part of the country.”
As part of the public engagement for the draft destination management plan, invitations are being sent out to tourism businesses for the workshops, which are free and will be staged both in person and online.
Attendees will be asked about their priorities and aspirations for the tourism industry as well as the strengths, opportunities and challenges being faced by North Yorkshire’s visitor economy.
Sessions will be held at:
- The Garden Room at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn on Friday,11 August.
- The Old Deanery in Ripon on Tuesday, 15 August.
- Whitby Pavilion on Tuesday, 15 August.
- Harrogate Convention Centre, Wednesday, 16 August.
- North Yorkshire Council’s offices in Skipton on Wednesday, 16 August.
- The Civic Centre in Selby on Wednesday, 16 August.
- Mercury House in Richmond on Thursday, 17 August.
- Scarborough Spa on Friday, 18 August.
- Pickering Memorial Hall on Tuesday, 22 August.
Sessions will run from 11am to 1pm and then 3pm to 5pm at all the venues, apart from the event at the council offices in Skipton which will be staged from 2pm to 4pm and then between 5pm and 7pm. Other venues elsewhere in the county are due to be added.
Online sessions will be available on Monday, 14 August, from 12.30pm until 2.30pm and then between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
