A TEAM of tourism experts have been appointed to help support businesses in the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate area.

This is a ground-breaking scheme which, we are confident, will bring real benefits to tourism businesses in the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate areas

John Jagger - Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Tourism Partnership

It is the first time such a scheme on this scale that has ever been launched in the area, and represents a major push to help support tourism operators who may be struggling due to the national economic downturn.

The four Business Development Officers – all chosen because of their experience in the domestic tourism industry – will tour the region, offering practical advice to tourism businesses. That could include running marketing surgeries, helping with grant applications and highlighting other useful services such as Business Link.

The four will work for the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Tourism Partnership, under the supervision of Richmondshire District Council. They have been appointed on a part-time, temporary basis from now until the end of March 2009 – although there is a possibility of extending this if the scheme proves successful.

The team will work to support businesses across the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate. Specifically, each business development officer must meet with at least 40 businesses, providing free advice and information where appropriate. The impact of their work will be carefully monitored and fed back to the Head of Economic Development at Richmondshire District Council, and to the Tourism Partnership itself.

John Jagger, Executive Chair of the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Tourism Partnership, said: “This is a ground-breaking scheme which, we are confident, will bring real benefits to tourism businesses in the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate areas.

“Undoubtedly, the difficulties which some of our tourism operators have encountered are not going to go away, so now more than ever it is important that the Tourism Partnership does everything in its power to provide them with the maximum support.

“Our aim is to help businesses to market themselves better, ensure that they are aware of what advice and services they can draw upon and keep them informed about the latest developments in the tourism industry.

“This team is dedicated to ensuring that every business in the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate area has the necessary ammunition and firepower to prevail in the battle to attract tourists to our wonderful part of the world.”