Dales businesses aim to fight visitor dip

The Dales Tourism Business Network (DTBN) has organised the free event to focus on practical marketing advice exploring the best ways to attract the right visitors and generate coverage for lesser known, niche places alongside the big name attractions.

Visitor numbers for several major attractions across Yorkshire are down on the figures for last year, prompting concerns that its lucrative tourism sector is facing major challenges.

One of the worst-hit venues is the World of James Herriot in Thirsk, the museum dedicated to the world-famous Dales vet. Just over 8,500 visitors have been through the doors of the Kirkgate museum between April and June, compared with 13,000 for the same period in 2010.

Craven District Council leader Christopher Knowles-Fitton, who runs a £100-a-night five-star bed and breakfast with his wife, Pam, near Appletreewick, said the business has seen a 20 per cent fall in trade since the start of 2011 compared with last year.

Mark Allum, the recreation and tourism manager at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which helped establish the DTBN alongside Nidderdale AONB and local marketing company The Tourism Network, said: “We have been really pleased with the response from tourism businesses to the setting up of the DTBN.

“There is a real enthusiasm for working together to support tourism and protect the special qualities of the national park and Nidderdale AONB.”

The event, which will also focus on getting visitors to act more sustainably, will be held between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Monday October 17 at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, and from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on November 2 at the Jonas Centre in Redmire.

To register, contact Susan Briggs at [email protected].