HOTELS and visitor attractions in York are gearing up for this year's tourism "Oscars", which aim to boost the region's tourism industry following the devastation of last year's foot and mouth outbreak.

Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) today revealed the front runners for this year's White Rose Awards for Tourism, which are designed to recognise excellence in the industry.

Entries have flooded in for the 13 open categories, which include Hotel of the Year, Visitor Attraction of the Year, Conference Venue of the Year, Tourism Event of the Year and Best Newcomer to Tourism.

City attractions such as Jorvik, the National Railway Museum, The Bar Convent and the York Festival of Food and Drink are all shortlisted for awards along with self-catering holiday destinations Baille Hill House, Gales House Farm and Bishopgate Pavilion, all in York.

The National Centre for Early Music in York and York Marriott are both nominated for conference venue of the year and Fangfest, York, is up for Event of the Year.

Other nominees include Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo at Kirby Misperton, Dunsley Hall Country House Hotel at Whitby, Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary and Yorkshire Garden World in Selby.

Nominations from the public are also being received in a 14th category, the Outstanding Customer Service Award, for outstanding customer service received at the hands of a person or organisation involved in tourism in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Nominations can be made through any of the region's Tourist Information Centres, via the internet at www.yorkshirevisitor.com or in writing to White Rose Awards, YTB, 312 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1GS.

Updated: 13:03 Saturday, June 22, 2002