Tours could bring new trade (From Gazette & Herald)

Tours could bring new trade

TOUR operators from around the UK are descending on North Yorkshire for a "busman's holiday" in a bid to see what the region has to offer.

About 35 top buyers will be on the look out for new touring ideas, with a whistlestop excursion to the North York Moors, Pickering Castle and three seaside resorts.

For the first time the big holiday spenders will be stopping off at Malton to take a look at some of Ryedale's charms.

The showcase event, which takes place next weekend, has been commissioned by English Heritage, who hope their sites in Pickering, Scarborough and Whitby will prove a crowd puller.

Nicola Bexon, regional marketing manager for English Heritage, said: "We know from past experience that events of this nature can succeed in creating a lot of real interest amongst key decision-makers in the tour industry. It helps to put an area well and truly on the tourism map."

Steve Jaques, chairman of the Ryedale Tourism Association, applauded the initiative.

"It will show the people who do these tours just what's on offer in the area," he said.

Mr Jaques, museum director at Eden Camp, outside Malton, said: "The idea is for the tour operators to come through to Malton at the end of the day on Saturday and local attractions have been invited to go along and put on a display," he explained.

"It can have a very positive effect. Sometimes you can see the response in bookings straight away, and if it's a whole coach tour then these people need somewhere to stay, and it can benefit everyone."

Updated: 10:27 Saturday, March 08, 2003