Executive Council Member speaks at York Tourism conference on benefits of tourism for York

City of York Council Executive member, Councillor Jo Coles, the Council’s lead for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care spoke at Thursday’s high-powered ‘York Tourism Conference’ in a challenge to the industry to make a bigger tourism contribution to the city, through stronger businesses and finding ways that tourists contribute more towards the upkeep costs of the city. 

Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Jo Coles said: 

“Our tourism economy is vitally important, creating thousands of jobs and bringing millions of visitors to our great city every year. Tourism can drive dynamism and inspire change in how people want to spend their leisure time, and their money. The transformation of Coppergate from a simple sweet shop to Jorvik, a nationally recognised visitor attraction celebrating 40 years this April, is a prime example of that. 

“To build on what we have and to attract our residents into rewarding careers, we need to generate progression opportunities where they can see a future in the tourism sector.  We also, as part of our economic and tourism strategies, need to focus on sustainability and green tourism. How do people get here, get around and what will tourism look like in ten years’ time? The world is changing so we need to work together to seize the opportunities this will offer”. 

The York Tourism Conference took place at York St John’s Creative Centre on Thursday 1 February.