Le Tour linked to surge in visitors to Yorkshire

Despite freezing temperatures, the county enjoyed a 47 per cent rise in spending between January and February compared with the same period last year, according to the Great Britain Travel Survey.

The figures – partly due to a 6.6 per cent rise in visitor numbers and a 24.2 per cent increase in overnight stays – were the best in the country.

In the same period, visitor numbers nationally were only up 0.9 per cent, overnight stays 7.3 per cent and spending 9.2 per cent.

In December it was announced that Yorkshire’s bid to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France had been successful.

Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, which ran the bid, said: “Statistics like these are testament to the hard work and determination of our tourism businesses, coupled with the innovative work we do to market Yorkshire.

“These encouraging figures follow our announcement that we had secured the Tour de France – and the subsequent international media coverage it brought for Yorkshire, thrusting it into the spotlight once more.”

Early estimates predict the Tour could be worth more than £100m to Yorkshire’s economy when the Grand Départ launches on July 5 next year.

Welcome to Yorkshire has teamed up with theme park Lightwater Valley to launch a new summer campaign to promote the county, including a guide to Yorkshire’s best summer attractions.

Mr Verity hopes the campaign will build on the successful start to the year.

“Yorkshire is now recognised as one of the leading tourist destinations in Europe,” he said.