RYEDALE'S tourist hotspots got off to a flying start for the season this Easter weekend - but there are concerns that a shake-up in the region's industry could threaten the district's continued success.

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward (YF) has been given responsibility for Yorkshire's £4.2billion tourism industry, currently in the hands of the Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB). It has put forward five options, including a new regional tourism body and the creation of four 'sub-regional destination management organisations' - a move which has brought a mixed reaction from members of Ryedale's tourist industry.

For Ryedale District Council, which could lose all strategic responsibility, tourism officer Sarah Ward said the area will suffer - "the council will lose the good reputation it currently has for providing a good tourism service" - and will lose responsibilty for its award-winning tourism information centres.

She added: "There is an underlying threat that refusing to participate in some level of change could result in Ryedale council not being eligible for YF funding for any project in the future."

The issue is considered so serious that a special meeting of district councillors is to be held next Tuesday to consider a response to YF.

The county council, too, fears for the future of tourism structures in the county and believes YF is acting hastily. A closing date for responses in the consultation YF is conducting is April 23, with the new structure in place by next April. Information and a questionnaire can be found on Yorkshire Forward's website, www.yorkshire-forward.com.

Coun Roger Harrison-Topham, chairman of the authority's economic development and regeneration scrutiny committee, said: "While YF's increased involvement in the industry has potential benefits, there is considerable concern at the haste in which the consultation with the industry and councils is being put through."

Sir Thomas Ingleby, of Ripley Castle, chairman of YTB's private members' group, said that the amount of money spent on marketing by tourism businesses was only 0.01pc, compared with the average of most other businesses of 3-4pc.

Chairman of Ryedale Tourism Association Steve Jaques, who is the museum director at Eden Camp and also owns Wolds Way Lavender Farm near Wintringham, is sceptical about change.

"The partnership we have with Ryedale District Council is an excellent one," he said. "I'm a great believer in 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. Having seen the proposals, Yorkshire Forward haven't come up with anything we don't already do.

"We know the area inside out and I know, working with the district council as I have done for the past 15 years, how the product - Ryedale - works.

"The approach Yorkshire Forward is suggesting is too broad. North Yorkshire is too big an area to lump together - we are very different to York and to the coast. Granted, that's what makes the area so popular - its diversity, but we still need to manage our own patch in the way that is best for us.

"We already co-ordinate successfully with the other areas. I'm not saying we shouldn't consider Yorkshire Forward - when they offer money and new ideas, I will take that on board, but until then I will not buy into change for the sake of it."

He is particularly suspicious of proposed changes in operational responsibility for tourism services. "The fear is that we will loose out," he said. "They want fewer, bigger, tourist information centres. Ryedale has three excellent tourist information centres which are well-used by the public, why take them away?"

At Flamingo Land, director Melanie Gibb said she was delighted with the news, since she feels Ryedale District Council has let her firm down badly.

"It would be in our favour," she said. "We are one of the biggest attractions in the area and the district council has not been at all helpful to us. They have created obstacles in planning terms and they don't want us to progress. We have the right to develop but they are in no way supportive," she said.

"Flamingo Land will flourish no matter what, but it would be nice to do it with the support of the official body, whatever that may be. I think we need some real experts who know what they are talking about."

Stan Johnson, owner of Eden Camp, near Malton, said "I really couldn't care either way, it just doesn't affect us."

At Duncombe Park, Helmsley, house manager Liz Williams said: "Personally I'm not 100pc in favour of centralising things like that and, as far as we're concerned, we have always had a very successful relationship with the tourism office at Ryedale House."

Updated: 11:40 Wednesday, April 14, 2004