Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
17
May
Tourist information centre to be reviewed in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Council has launched a review of its tourist information centres amid an overhaul of its tourism strategy.
Tony Watson, head of tourism at the authority, told businesses at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday night that the aim of the review was to look strategically at how different places signpost people to attractions.
The move comes as Visit North Yorkshire, which Mr Watson oversees, recently published a new destination management plan for the county.
Mr Watson told this week's meeting that the strategic review of tourist information was a “priority” for him.
He said:
We have started a review now of our tourist information provision across North Yorkshire. I hope to come back and update you on that imminently.
This is a real priority for me. It’s a critical part of our destination management plan. If we tell people what is here, they might stay longer, they might do more and travel to stay and importantly spend more.
Mr Watson added:
What I’m keen on is a wider strategic review about what we do, who we do it with and how we do it.
Harrogate’s tourist information centre was moved to the Royal Pump Room Museum in February 2024.
At the time, the council said the move would enable it to save costs and generate income from the Royal Baths, which hosted a standalone tourist information centre.
The Royal Baths has been dogged by low investment returns since the council paid £9.5 million for it in 2018. However, the old tourist building has been vacant since.
The authority said in a report that the number of visitors to the tourist information centre fell from 135,000 pre-covid in 2019 to 68,000 in 2023, mainly due to people seeking information online. It added it was "important to maintain access to the service to support tourism within the area and to provide services for those who are unable or prefer not to use digital services".
0