MANY of York’s award-winning tourism venues are shortlisted again for Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards.

North and East Yorkshire also have an impressive presence in this year’s shortlist of 90 attractions, hotels, venues and individuals in 16 categories which will be vying for the region’s “tourism Oscars”.

The National Railway Museum has been shortlisted for the Business Tourism Award after winning Visitor Attraction Of The Year last year, and its production of The Railway Children, produced by York Theatre Royal, won Best Tourism Experience Of The Year.

York Museums Trust won Tourism Event Of The Year for The Grand Tour in 2009, and this year York Castle Museum, owned by York Museum Trust, is in the running for Large Visitor Attraction, alongside fellow York contender the Jorvik Viking Centre.

Jorvik is also shortlisted for Tourism Event Of The Year for the 25th Annual Jorvik Viking Festival, and its admissions team leader Gillian Pool is shortlisted for the Outstanding Customer Service award.

The Royal York Hotel and Events Centre’s business centre manager, Denise Walker, is also shortlisted for this award, and the hotel is in the running for the Large Hotel Of The Year.

Jollydays Luxury Camping from Scrayingham, York, the York Maze and York Racecourse’s Ebor Festival have been shortlisted for Best Tourism Experience Of The Year.

The Barley Hall, York, Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens And Nursery and The Walled Garden at Scampston, Malton, are also in the shortlist for Small Visitor Attraction Of The Year.

A new category this year, the Visitor Information Award, includes Malton Tourist Information Centre and Pickering Tourist Information Centre on its shortlist.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome To Yorkshire, said: “The quality of this year’s White Rose Awards entries is so incredibly high we had no choice but to increase the number of those shortlisted. This clearly demonstrates that the Yorkshire tourism industry has really stepped up its game in terms of quality and presence, both of which are vital if we are to achieve our aims to be the UK’s best.”

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on October 4, at the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

All winners are automatically entered into the national Enjoy England Awards For Excellence 2010.