MORE time is needed to debate a proposed major shake-up of York and North Yorkshire's £4 billion a year tourism industry, senior county councillors have said.
North Yorkshire County Council leader John Weighell is to contact city leaders in York and district council colleagues across the county to discuss a joint response to the proposals from the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.
It has proposed setting up four sub-regional destination management organisations (DMOs) - for North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and the Humber.
The DMOs would be funded through local authorities and business subscriptions to provide tourism development, visitor management and business support, and co-ordinate promotions.
Yorkshire Forward is asking for views on the proposals from all parts of the tourism industry, with an April 23 deadline.
Coun Weighell said: "We are not totally anti to what is being proposed, but believe the consultation timescale needs extending so all aspects of North Yorkshire's tourism can be looked at.
"There are concerns, such as what happens to the Yorkshire Tourist Board, which we think has done a fairly good job for tourism in Yorkshire.
"We also decided to talk to City of York and the district councils to put together a united response to what Yorkshire Forward is consulting on."
Last month, tourism leaders in York expressed concern over how a DMO would sit with the city's status as a top tourist spot.
City council leader Steve Galloway, who chairs York's economic development board, said any DMO would have to recognise York's position as the region's premier visitor site.
Andrew Scott, a member of the economic development board and head of the National Railway Museum, told the meeting it was vital to maintain continuity within the city's tourist sector.
He said it was unlikely a uniform DMO could work covering the whole of York and North Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Forward has said the consultation process is open, and no final decisions would be made until all tourism players had been given the opportunity to state their views.
The proposals can be viewed at www.yorkshire-forward.com
Updated: 10:38 Wednesday, April 14, 2004
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