Economy-boosting tourism boss to leave

Gillian Cruddas has helped drive forward York’s multi-million pound tourism sector since being appointed in 1995, but she will leave the post on October 31.

She admitted the job had faced challenges in recent years as public sector funding has become increasingly scarce, although York Council has committed to keep its annual £300,000 contribution the same this financial year.

Mrs Cruddas told the Yorkshire Post that it had been her decision to leave, but confirmed that she has no firm plans for when her long tenure ends.

She said: “It has been a privilege to work with so many talented people, and York really is a marketeer’s dream. Whenever I tell people what I do, their faces light up because York is such a special place. But a lot of people tell me I must have a cushy job. That is far from the case, as we have to try and keep one step ahead of the other destinations.”

The tourism industry has become increasingly important as the city’s traditional manufacturing sector has dwindled.

Visitor numbers have soared from 2.1m in 1987 to 7m and tourism’s value has risen from £55m to £443m a year.

Mrs Cruddas said her highlights included staging the Royal Ascot festival in 2005 and collecting the European city of the year award in Athens in 2007.

She started her career in 1983 as a resort manager in the Alps, and worked as a tourism officer in Hull before coming to York.

She was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to tourism in York.

Visit York confirmed her post is expected to be filled temporarily while “all options are explored”.