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New initiative will aid farm tourism

North Yorkshire Council is seeking to boost tourism in the county

Ben Briggs
Ben Briggs is the group publisher and editor in chief of Agriconnect, overseeing the media business and titles such as ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian, Dairy Farmer and Arable Farming.
clock • 1 min read
New initiative will aid farm tourism

North Yorkshire's first ever county-wide tourism strategy was inextricably linked to the vibrancy of its rural areas and would provide a boost for on-farm visitor attractions.

North Yorkshire Council, a unitary authority which officially came into being this April and spans eight former council areas, has launched the No Place Like North Yorkshire visitor economy campaign.

With tourism worth £1.5 billion to North Yorkshire and supporting 41,200 jobs, councillors claimed the new initiative would create opportunities for farms operating in the tourism sector.

Council leader Carl Les said: "[This campaign] is interlinked with rurality and there will be opportunities for some farmers to diversify into another type of income."

Fellow councillor, Derek Bastiman, added: "It is incumbent on us to support farming in North Yorkshire and ensure they have the right employment opportunities to make the rural economy, and our rural towns and villages, sustainable in future."

The Yorkshire Dales and North Yorks Moors national parks have 'dark skies' designation due to their lack of light pollution, something officials hope will extend the tourist season into autumn and winter and could benefit those with accommodation in the more remote areas.

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