The team at Welcome to Yorkshire have instigated and accepted the challenge to act as the conduit for the county’s crucial tourism resurgence.
On Wednesday 6th May Welcome to Yorkshire hosted an incredibly informative and positive meeting with local authorities, heritage attraction and national park representatives, sharing ideas and thoughts to gather crucial information from across the county and beyond. With the aim to build a robust recovery plan for the Yorkshire Tourism industry post-coronavirus, collaboration is key and over 40 engaged participants and tourism experts took part.
The start of the series of seminars highlighted many points to be acted upon and considered, to ensure strong and safe tourism to save tourism as #YorkshireTogether
“Supporting and promoting Yorkshire businesses and tourism attractions continues to be an absolute priority during current times and beyond. We are all looking forward and planning for when restrictions start to lift, when people can visit Yorkshire’s beautiful beaches, gorgeous green spaces and explore our cities again. However, it’s crucial that central and local government guidelines are listened to, and the health and safety of residents and visitors to Yorkshire is of paramount importance. Welcome to Yorkshire continue to collaborate closely with local authorities, as well as business and attraction owners, creating a strong recovery plan, whilst adhering to rules and recommendations concerning lockdown restrictions being lifted, ensuring a new safe tourism experience during unprecedented times,” explains James Mason, Chief Executive at Welcome to Yorkshire. “Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £9 billion to the county’s economy and employs almost 225,000 people, so it is essential to the overall economy that we preserve this. Welcome to Yorkshire has a global brand reach of over 23 million and we all aim to take considered and effective steps to Welcome back to Yorkshire visitors from across the world once again.”
Welcome to Yorkshire Chair Peter Box added: “Wednesday’s meeting was a great success with a brilliant team spirit and a strong sense of collaboration from across the county, with the absolute aim of creating a strong tourism recovery plan led by Welcome to Yorkshire. It’s imperative that we continue to work together to understand the needs and concerns from across the region and consider the importance of sharing insight, intelligence and good practice throughout the process.”
Many important points were discussed and will continue to be addressed at future Welcome to Yorkshire hosted seminars, including consistent messaging from each local authority but tailored to specific regional differences, a desire for respectful, responsible, safe and sustainable tourism whilst instilling confidence and trust across all stakeholders as to the right time to reintroduce tourism and with a strong consideration for the impact on public health and transport infrastructures of social distancing relaxation. Taking into account concerns of unemployment, business closures and supply chain issues are also key factors to be considered and acted upon.
Welcome to Yorkshire are looking at the opportunity to launch a free business membership to offer support across the whole county. Any organisation will be able to sign up and access WTY’s business resources, tool kits, newsletters and access to expertise. The existing membership model with paid for benefits will remain for now although at present all paying members can enjoy a three month payment freeze.
Based on various agencies and business owner feedback, Welcome to Yorkshire announced that a Yorkshire Gift Card will be introduced, so that a marketing campaign to capitalise on the desire for people to shop local, buy local and commit to local, hotels and service providers attractions can be accessed, plus allowing the global diaspora of people connected with the county to support Yorkshire businesses.
Welcome to Yorkshire encourage tourism industry experts and business representatives, to please take the opportunity to share inspirational ideas and coronavirus concerns, ensuring that when restrictions start to lift a plan of action is in place to secure safe tourism and an effective economic recovery for Yorkshire.
Join the next webinar to discuss important issues, including how Welcome to Yorkshire can help and support during the resurgence of tourism in Yorkshire post-COVID-19.
Wednesday 13th May 2020 – 11am to 1pm – Be a part of preserving Yorkshire’s tourism future. E: info@yorkshire.com to request an agenda and details of how to join the meeting.
Web: www.yorkshire.com
