York is ‘Here For Tourism’ this English Tourism Week

This week marks ‘English Tourism Week’ (22 – 31^st May) – a week-long celebration dedicated to showing support for tourism businesses and destinations across the sector as they reopen and start to rebuild. Coordinated by VisitEngland, English Tourism Week aims to highlight the economic importance of tourism to local economies and promote the innovation, quality and range of products and services on offer to encourage more domestic breaks.

Kicking off on 22^nd May with a call out from York’s Town Crier Ben Fry on Visit York’s social media, businesses across the city have been urged to share why tourism is so important to them using #EnglishTourismWeek21.

Businesses across York have been celebrating why they are ‘Here for Tourism’ with photos, social media posts and videos throughout the week to highlight the importance of tourism in the city. A short video bringing together some of Visit York members showcases businesses including The Balloon Tree, Yorkshire Appetite Tours, Ambiente Tapas and Hotel Indigo York: English Tourism Week: Here For Tourism | Visit York

One of the city’s first big Spring events will also take place during English Tourism Week – the York Spring Fair & Food Festival. This brand-new covid-safe event will run from 28^th May to 6^th June, bringing together one of the largest vintage funfairs seen in North Yorkshire for many years and a Food Festival showcasing the very best artisan products from Yorkshire and beyond. To show their support of English Tourism Week and the launch of the event, the new Lord Mayor of York Cllr Chris Cullwick and York Central MP Rachael Maskell will be joining York’s Town Crier Ben Fry to open the Spring Fair on 28^th May.

As part of the event the Visit York Information Centre team will have a stall each day – sharing with visitors and residents their expert local knowledge of attractions, travel information, places to eat, shops and things to do in the city. Throughout the week the Visit York team will be joined by characters from some of the city’s popular attractions – including The York Dungeon – with chances for visitors to win special prizes and find out more about events happening in the city this summer.

Ashley Young, Senior Marketing Manager at Make It York, said:

“We are delighted to support English Tourism Week and champion the local businesses who do such an amazing job of welcoming tourists to the city every year. Showcasing and celebrating the outstanding tourism offer in the city is hugely important, especially as the sector starts to reopen and rebuild post- Covid.

“It is great to see bigger events like the Spring Fair and Food Festival returning to the city – offering a safe and family friendly environment for visitors and residents to enjoy this bank holiday and half term. We look forward to seeing more events coming back over the summer months and working with local businesses to highlight all that York has to offer as a staycation destination.”

This English Tourism Week the brand new Sandburn Hall Hotel near York has also played its part by opening for the very first time, with a showround for local MP Kevin Hollinrake. Kevin was shown round the hotel by James Hogg, Director of Sandburn Hall. Sandburn Hall has had a successful first few days’ trading since opening on Monday 24th May, including sales of what is proving to be a popular “Great Yorkshire Staycation” holiday package.

VisitEngland have produced toolkits and a series of posters for York’s tourism businesses and destinations to download and get involved in the week, promoting their products and services, attractions and experiences.

Find out more about English Tourism Week here: https://www.visitbritain.org/english-tourism-week

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Images: https://we.tl/t-ezr1XtiacI © Gareth Buddo / Visit York

Make It York ’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings – nationally and internationally – as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. The company’s remit covers leisure and business tourism, city centre management, festivals and events.

Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand 
Under the brand Visit York, Make It York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure visitor and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York.

For more information, please contact:

Ana Ignatova – Communications Executive
Email: ana.ignatova@makeityork.com