Tourism contributed more than £4 billion to North Yorkshire’s economy last year, attracting more than 31 million people to the county.
Figures just out highlight a strong outlook for the sector, as the summer holiday season gets underway with the average length of stay for visitors in North Yorkshire being four nights and surpassing the national average of 2.8 nights as recorded by Visit England.
The report also demonstrates how the local tourism industry supports 38,486 jobs through direct and indirect employment making up 13 per cent of all employment across North Yorkshire.
The figures have been collected for the first time on a county-wide scale using the STEAM model, which measures the economic impact of visits to an area. This provides an important baseline for the future growth of the sector.
North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said: “The release of these new figures not only confirms the importance of tourism to our local economy, but it also provides a baseline to work from as we begin an exciting new journey for the visitor economy in North Yorkshire.
“The value of the visitor economy must not be underestimated which is why we have made it a priority for us. It supports tens of thousands of jobs and sees visitors come to the county from across the world, and we are committed to ensuring that the sector continues to grow.”
Simon Wright, who is the general manager at the Burgoyne Hotel in Reeth, said: “We have seen an increase in visitors coming here from home and abroad over the past year, and it is no wonder with so much on offer across North Yorkshire. People are truly spoilt for choice with things to see and do.
“Reeth itself is surrounded by stunning scenery and is an ideal base for those wanting to explore the broader dales and National Parks. For history lovers, there are abbeys, castles and other villages to discover. For those that like nature and the outdoors there’s hiking, cycling and walking on offer.
“It truly is an amazing county and no matter what the weather, North Yorkshire is breathtakingly beautiful in all seasons which is why people keep coming back here.”
