Gary Verity

The Destination Management Organisation for Yorkshire. Welcome to Yorkshire has created a fresh, dynamic view of the UK's largest county with its innovative marketing and PR campaigns, not forgetting its contagious enthusiasm which has garnered fans of Yorkshire from across the globe. Our award-winning team has achieved this by being creative and forward thinking but more importantly by working closely with members and partners to build a new confidence in the county. Welcome to Yorkshire will also continue to work closely with the county’s amazing attractions, brilliant businesses and local authorities to enable the tourism sector to reopen, recover and rebuild as safely and as successfully as possible. Pre-pandemic tourism in Yorkshire was worth a staggering £9 billion annually to the county’s economy, with the region’s tourism and hospitality industry employing almost 225,000 people. Yorkshire has much to offer, including vibrant cities, a spectacular coastline, stunning countryside, tempting towns, astounding arts, fabulous food and delicious drink, as well as a wealth of history and heritage. Its abundant open spaces also means it’s a magnet for visitors wishing to make the most of a longed-for break to enjoy the great outdoors. The forecast for lockdown to lift and the limitations for overseas travel, means the thirst for staycations will be welcomed to kick-start the tourism and hospitality industry once more and encourage visits to attractions and locations, providing what will be a much-needed financial boost to this struggling sector. Welcome to Yorkshire has an annual social reach of circa 20 million engagements and a global brand reach of over 23 million. Welcome to Yorkshire is a not-for-profit membership organisation, funded in part by grants, sponsorship and Welcome to Yorkshire members. All money raised is reinvested directly back into promoting Yorkshire.