Ryedale | Archive | 2003 | August | 06
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Wednesday 6th Aug 2003.
RYEDALE'S tourism industry - already enjoying one of its best ever years - has landed a £424,000 grant to provide the latest technology which is likely to spell new jobs and a big boost to the district's economy.
The money has been secured by the district council's economic development manager, Andrew Leeming, and tourism officer Corina Inverno after several months of negotiation with the European Union's regional development fund, Yorkshire Forward, the Government office at Leeds and Business Link for York and North Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Forward and the EU's Objective 2 funding scheme has provided the investment which, says Mr Leeming, will be used to improve competitiveness and enhance the quality of tourism businesses in Ryedale.
"There are many businesses which have the potential to grow," he added.
But while the businesses themselves will be able to benefit directly, hundreds of others will also get advantage from it through an increased number of tourists to Ryedale.
New marketing campaigns, the creation of a computer destination marketing system and the provision of state-of-the-art ICT equipment to boost on-line booking systems for hotels and other accommodation providers, as well as developing websites, are all on the drawing board, said Mr Leeming.
"Tourism is a major economic and job provider in Ryedale, but as we saw with the foot and mouth disease outbreak, and the effect of the September 11 terrorism attacks, it can be quite fragile," he said. "Our aim is to strengthen the economic base of the industry, attracting tourists year-round and to strengthen the whole tourism business stock."
But many other businesses stand to cash in on the windfall, among them restaurants, cafes, shops, and the catalogue of service industries in Ryedale.
A liaison officer is to be appointed who will work with businesses and provide them with expert advice and help. Ryedale District Council (RDC) has a funding contract with Business Link which, said Mr Leeming, was crucial to the success of the project.
Steve Jacques, chairman of Ryedale Tourism Association, said the grant was welcome news because it would provide businesses with the latest technology which in turn would benefit the whole of the district's economy.
"We are a traditional holiday area but we cannot afford to be complacent because there are so many inland towns and cities establishing themselves as tourist destinations," he said.
He added that the new technology was going to have a major impact on helping to win new tourists to Ryedale: "It has got to be good for every business, because petrol stations, ice cream parlours and the various shops all stand to benefit."
In addition to managing Eden Camp, near Malton - one of Yorkshire top tourist attractions - Mr Jacques says his newest venture, the Yorkshire Wolds Lavender enterprise at Wintringham, had quickly established itself as an attraction and was employing six people.
This year promises to be one of the best on record for Ryedale's holiday business, which is now worth in excess of £100m a year.
Corina Inverno, the tourism officer for the district, said: "We aim to help tourism businesses grow through the use of information technology. We shall be able to help people with advice from Business Link, acting as a signpost to various sources of assistance. The grant is wonderful news for Ryedale because there will be so many spin-offs"
Pioneered by RDC, the grant scheme is set to be officially launched within the next six weeks.
Updated: 10:46 Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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