NATURE tourism could net the East Yorkshire economy up to £28.5 million a year over the next decade if more is made of the area’s wildlife.

Council chiefs say investing in how wildlife in the East Riding is promoted has the potential to create 500 extra jobs if visitors can be enticed to stay longer.

A study of East Yorkshire’s nature tourism sector claims the income it generates could be tripled through a “sustained programme of investment” and better marketing, with areas such as Filey, Flamborough, Scarborough and The Wolds all having potential to boost the region’s coffers.

The report, which has gone before East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s greater prosperity scrutiny committee, says the aim over the next decade should be to attract 560,000 tourists a year.

It also calls for those who run places to stay to do more to promote what they have to offer.

Research has shown the value of wildlife tourism, such as the opportunities for animal and bird watching, in East Yorkshire is currently estimated at about £9.5 million a year.

But the report, prepared by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: “A key objective must be to increase length of stay in the area, converting day visits into overnight stays and one-night trips into short breaks.

“At present, the commercial exploitation of wildlife tourism in East Yorkshire is very underdeveloped. With the exception of fishing boat skippers offering short bird-watching trips from Bridlington, there are only two tour operators who bring groups to the area.

“There are also clear opportunities for local accommodation providers to be much more proactive in marketing their properties to draw more people to the area because of its rich natural and wildlife heritage.

“Over a ten-year period, a sustained programme of investment in capital projects, marketing and capacity building among the area’s tourism sector should help to deliver a three-fold increase in the value of nature tourism to the local economy.”

One of the keys to bringing in more cash was identified as a new seabird centre at Bempton Cliffs, near Flamborough which the report said would have benefits for the rest of the region.