Welcome to Yorkshire must now lead recovery plan – The Yorkshire Post says

Confirming that one in three jobs could be at risk, the much respected RSA think-tank cites hospitality and tourism ventures, as well as rural and coastal communities, as being amongst the most vulnerable.

Significantly Richmondshire – including the North Yorkshire constituency of Chancellor Rishi Sunak – tops the RSA’s list, with 35 per cent of jobs, the equivalent of 5,965 roles, facing particular uncertainty.

In an area which picture postcard scenery has, for some time, masked deep pockets of poverty because the area is so dependent on tourism and farming, an action plan – as opposed to platitudes – needs to be formed now.

Businesses and families here also expect Welcome to Yorkshire to be at the forefront of this strategy, campaigning like it has never done before, after taxpayers came to the body’s financial rescue via local councils.

And while stabilising the organisation was James Mason’s first priority as chief executive, he, and his team, do now need to get on the front foot after conceding that “thousands and thousands and thousands” of tourism businesses are now at risk.

Not only is this required to protect a sector of the economy which is worth £9bn a year to the county’s coffers, but it will also help to safeguard Welcome to Yorkshire’s own future. Mr Mason, many livelihoods do now depend on your efforts.

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