Welcome to Yorkshire 'has long-term future', board meeting told

WTY chairman Peter Box said that despite Wakefield Council - where he was the leader for more than 20 years - declining a plea for it to contribute £78,000 towards the bailout this week, he was confident there would be enough support from other quarters to keep the organisation in business.

Councils in North and South Yorkshire have previously already agreed to contribute almost £600,000 towards the bailout, while other authorities like Leeds Council are yet to make decisions on if they provide the requested support.

Mr Box said: “We are encouraged that our latest conversations with local authorities means that we will receive the funding we require to continue to support the visitor economy, support the industry and promote Yorkshire as a place to visit, live, work and study.”

The money is being sought as a result of a black hole in the organisation’s finances caused by a loss of expected business rates funding and private membership fees being suspended due to the Covid crisis.

Other tourism agencies across the country have also been struggling due to the pandemic hitting their expected revenues, with Visit Cambridge and Beyond being closed down in July after

it was declared to be no longer a going concern.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive James Mason, who said earlier this week there was a “natural fear” for his organisation’s future following the Wakefield decision, told the board meeting the picture now seems brighter.

“We are encouraged that we have not just a short-term but a long-term future here,” he said.

“Our funding position - although not yet confirmed - does look a lot more positive.

“We have had both public and private sector support in the last 48 hours but also the last few weeks and months.”

A report on the organisation's finances was held in private at the meeting.

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James Mitchinson