Showcasing York and North Yorkshire to Spanish Travel Trade

At a Glance

What we did: Visit York hosted and coordinated the York programme for a five-day familiarisation visit involving Spanish travel agencies and international tourism professionals.

How it benefits York and beyond: The visit showcased the breadth of experiences available across York and North Yorkshire, helping to strengthen the region’s appeal within the Spanish travel market.

Who it supports: The activity supports Visit York members, regional destination partners and travel professionals developing new itineraries for international visitors.

The key result: Spanish travel trade representatives experienced York’s attractions and hospitality first-hand, creating opportunities for future promotion and bookings.

The Full Story

Visit York has supported VisitBritain’s latest international familiarisation activity, welcoming a number of Spanish travel agencies to experience the heritage, culture and hospitality that make York and North Yorkshire such compelling destinations.

As part of the Yorkshire and Manchester itinerary, Visit York hosted the York element of the five-day programme, coordinating experiences, introducing members and showcasing the city’s diverse visitor offer to key international tourism professionals.

The visit was designed to encourage Spanish travellers to explore beyond the screen and discover the real stories, landscapes and people behind some of Northern England’s most iconic destinations. 

During their time in York, guests experienced some of the city’s leading attractions and hospitality businesses to showcase how these can fit within their itineraries to travel bookers. 

On the afternoon of their arrival from Manchester Airport, the guests were met with a reception at accommodation partner, Delta Hotels By Marriott York, where they sampled summer cocktails and a selection of canapés. This was followed by a reception at SORA Restaurant and Terrace to take in the spectacular views of the city, before heading to an evening meal at Star Inn The City overlooking the river.

The next day’s itinerary included a guided city history tour with Blue Badge Guide, John Gallery, from the Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York, taking in the city’s 2000 year history. Then it was time for to embark upon a vessel along the river Ouse with City Cruises York with commentary from the captain, before a tour of York Minster to take in the splendour of the gothic cathedral. 

Working alongside Visit North Yorkshire, the programme then continued through to the wider North Yorkshire region, featuring destinations and experiences including Castle Howard, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, North York Moors National Park, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Helmsley and Harrogate. Their journey concluded in Manchester, where they experienced the city's creative energy during Manchester Day, hosted by Marketing Manchester.

The activity formed part of VisitBritain’s ongoing work to inspire international visitors and strengthen connections with global travel trade partners. By bringing influential Spanish travel professionals to the region, the trip provided an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of experiences available across York and North Yorkshire, from historic landmarks and cultural attractions to landscapes, local flavours and welcoming hospitality.

Led locally by Visit York, the activity supported the promotion of Visit York members and helped strengthen international relationships that can contribute to future visitor growth. Familiarisation trips such as this play an important role in showcasing York’s offer directly to those who influence travel decisions and create new opportunities for international bookings.

Through continued collaboration with VisitBritain and destination partners, Visit York remains committed to raising York’s profile overseas, supporting members and championing the city as a world-class destination for visitors from around the globe.