TOURISM bosses in Harrogate have given unanimous support to the formation of a tourism destination management organisation for the district.

The group, which included representatives from local hotels and guesthouses, Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Harrogate International Festival, Yorkshire Event Centre and Harrogate Borough Council, decided to establish a private-sector led local tourism body for the Harrogate district in response to the coalition Government’s policy on tourism, published in March.

The body will build on the Promoting Harrogate Group, organised by the chamber and will provide a joined-up approach to the proactive selling and marketing of the district’s tourism offer, which represents about 25 per cent of the district’s total economy, contributing £500m annually and supporting some 23,000 jobs.