Tourism bosses plan 225,000 new jobs over decade

The organisation wants to see a five per cent year-on-year growth in tourism.

The visitor economy is worth 97bn a year and employs more than two million people but VisitEngland fears that without growth the industry will start to see significant job losses and the demise of a wide range of tourism businesses.

The news comes a month after it was revealed Yorkshire is the fastest-growing tourist destination in the UK, with thousands of extra visitors pumping billions of pounds into the economy.

The value of tourism to Yorkshire has increased to 6.5bn after visitor numbers rocketed by 31 per cent last summer and money spent by holidaymakers leapt 13 per cent.

VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: "Tourism needs and indeed deserves much greater recognition for the positive impacts it brings to the economy in terms of income, skills and jobs.

"It is an excellent route into employment at all levels which is why the prospect of increasing the number of jobs the industry supports is so exciting.

"This strategy strives for an even higher standard of quality and service so that we improve what the industry has to offer even further – and achieve the five per cent growth as a result."

Welcome to Yorkshire, the Yorkshire tourist board, will be revealing its plans at the Y 10 conference on Monday at Harrogate International Centre.

The conference, believed to be the biggest tourism event in the UK, will see celebrities, politicians and business leaders announce "exciting and ambitious plans" for 2010.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, Gary Verity said: "Our aim is to instil passion in the region and encourage businesses to get on board with our plans to make Yorkshire the top destination in the UK."