Tourism bonus hopes from resort’s wartime weekend

Capitalising on the huge success of the annual 1940s steam railway event in Pickering, the Whitby Wartime Weekend will provide a welcome boost for businesses in the town this autumn.

The assistant tourism officer for Scarborough Council, Tim Readman, said: “It’s hoped that this event will provide a major boost to the economy of Whitby at a time that traditionally is less busy than the summer months.

“The council and other organisations, including Welcome to Yorkshire, are always looking at ways to extend the tourism season.

“We really want the Whitby community to get behind it and recognise the opportunities that will exist for residents and businesses to benefit.”

Last year more than 26,000 extra people visited Pickering during the town’s Railway in Wartime event and Mr Readman believes it has reached a saturation point.

He said: “Many people who want to visit Pickering for the event will want to visit Whitby if they know there are going to be a series of events based around a 1940s theme.

“The Pickering event has been a phenomenal success built over quite a number of years and if the Whitby event can come close to that it will be great for the town.”

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is extending its wartime trains into Whitby, with nine return services between Friday and Sunday, October 14 and 16, and a potential for more than 5,000 passengers to arrive in the town.

Mr Readman said: “Add to this the thousands who will drive or come across on the Esk Valley Railway line, then you’re looking at tens of thousands of people visiting Whitby for this event.”

Groups including Welcome to Yorkshire, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the Whitby and District Tourism Association and the Whitby Hospitality Association are appealing for community involvement and hope it will become an annual event.

The chairman of the Whitby Hospitality Association, Graham Collinson, said the event was vital for the town at a quiet time of the year. “I hope Whitby businesses will get behind this as it will bring an awful lot of trade into the town,” he said.