It’s not just the big race giving the industry a positive outlook.
The Tour de France has got tourism industry professionals very excited but it’s certainly not the only attraction to Yorkshire in 2014. The county’s landscape of wild moorland, lush rolling hills and dramatic coastline continues to entice more visitors year-on-year.
Tourism is Yorkshire’s third biggest sector, worth over £7 billion annually. The industry is growing, independently of the rise in interest generated by the Tour de France. Tourists to the city of York alone spent a record breaking £606 million in 2012 when the big race was just in the bidding stages and industry bosses are aiming to create a billion pound tourist industry for the city by 2024.
It’s interesting to examine why such high levels of visitors are flocking to the area.
James Morris, Managing Director of self-catering holiday property agency Holidaycottages.co.uk highlights the county’s variety as one of the main attractions to their customers. “Yorkshire has so much to offer visitors, breathtaking scenery, traditional seaside towns like Whitby, fantastic tourist attractions such as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and an incredible blend of culture and the arts.”
Visitors can take an enlightening journey through literature and film history, popping into the former home of the Brontë sisters, marvelling at the dramatic Whitby Abbey, inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula and visiting Goathland station which was the setting for Hogsmeade in Harry Potter.
The countryside doesn’t just attract those in the search of their literary idols, but also provides thousands of miles of beautiful trails for walkers. The North York Moors National Park sees 6.4 million visitors a year, keen to enjoy the fresh air and rugged vistas of the unspoilt ancient landscape.
At the end of February it was the skies of Yorkshire, rather than its incredible scenery which attracted the attention of visitors. A strong magnetic storm resulted in the ethereal red and green lights of the Aurora Borealis dancing across the darkened heavens to the delight of visitors and locals.
With the natural assets of Yorkshire providing solid foundations for the tourism industry, plans to boost visitor numbers look set to be extremely successful.
Foreign tourists are increasingly regarding the UK as a favourable holiday destination and Yorkshire hasn’t escaped their attention. Europeans are among the top visitors to the region, alongside those from the USA, Australia and increasingly China. Over the next decade, a number of initiatives are set to boost tourism numbers even further, including focusing on off peak visits and encouraging longer stays.
James Morris says: “We’re extremely pleased with booking figures for our Yorkshire properties which we’ve had in our portfolio for a year now. They’ve been exceptionally popular among our customers and we’re now looking to invest more resources in the area.”
“As a UK-wide company our regional managers are very important to us in providing a personal service to owners and customers while the business is growing. Our Yorkshire Property Manager Rebekka Westwood is extremely knowledgeable about the county and provides a direct contact who owners can meet with face to face to discuss their properties.”
Holidaycottages.co.uk are keen to help owners of holiday properties in the area maximise the potential of their properties as tourism continues to grow.
The key to running a successful holiday letting is ensuring that potential customers can find your property, and that it is represented by a trusted and respected agency.
Holidaycottages.co.uk were honoured to receive a Gold Trusted Merchant Award from independent review system Feefo, having achieved a fantastic overall rating of 98%.
With over 4 million visits to their website last year, a successful, wide-reaching television campaign and a whole team of marketing experts, property managers and reservations consultants behind them, the company is well-placed to maximise the potential of your property. Their foreign websites and agents ensure that your property reaches the attention of visitors from abroad as well as domestic tourists.
As a cottage owner you will be partnered with a dedicated Property Manager who will carry out inspections and ensure that your property is marketed to its full potential. Rebekka Westwood, Property Manager says: “We understand that, for owners, letting a property that they have put so much time and effort into can be a stressful experience. We aim to work closely with owners to remove the hassle, and deal quickly and professionally with any queries they may have.”
Besides professional photography to advertise your cottage, you’ll also receive payment in advance for reservations and 24/7 access to a bespoke online owner account.
Holidaycottages.co.uk are looking to welcome holiday property owners from all over Yorkshire, from the coast to the Dales and Moors. For more information and to book a free, no obligation appraisal, call one of their friendly property team on 01237 426 261.
