AN INNOVATIVE scheme to support the tourism industry in North Yorkshire has been supported by councillors.

Tourism workers are set to be offered the chance to learn an additional foreign language as part of North Yorkshire County Council's Adult Learning Plan.

Community learning development officer Fran Lett said: "We want to give people this chance to continue their education, giving added value to their job, and also to the tourism industry.

"Tourism is a very big source of revenue for the region, and this can really help towards it."

Councillors at the executive meeting agreed with supporting the tourism industry, and felt this also offered a good way of helping people to continue their education.

Coun Chris Metcalfe said: "We are currently concerned with how we engage with people more effectively, how to invite more people to continue their education.

"This seems to be a good way to do it."

The development officer explained the strength of the scheme.

She said: "The staff development programme has more than 600 teachers trained in observation teaching and learning to enable these schemes to be a success."

The programme is set to be offered free to staff at tourist establishments, from hotels and restaurants to local visitor attractions.

It is hoped to enable staff to better communicate with their customers and give visitors a warmer welcome.

Organisers expect the scheme to provide basic training in the main European languages of French, German and Spanish.

Funding has already been set aside for the programme, as part of the overall Adult Learning Plan funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

The scheme was supported by the Yorkshire Tourism Board as a positive step forward for the industry. It pointed out the importance of the industry to the region.

Chief executive David Andrews said: "Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £4.2 billion.

"Overseas visitors are very important to the industry, particularly to the region's cities such as York and to the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. In 2001, overseas visitors made approximately 800,000 trips to Yorkshire and spent over £250 million."

The Adult Learning Plan must now be passed by full council at the end of May before it can be put into action.

Updated: 10:14 Friday, April 18, 2003