Yorkshire boost for tourism, cycling, and the arts
Tourism, cycling and the arts boosted by new funding in Yorkshire, the Chancellor announces.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today committed to a package of investment to support tourism, cycling and the arts while on a tour to set out a long-term economic plan for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
On a visit to the Grassington National Park Centre, which was a spectator hub for last year’s successful Tour de France in Yorkshire, the Chancellor outlined that a key part of his Long-Term Economic Plan is to draw more visitors to the area’s beautiful national parks and historic cities and towns, with the aim of increasing the number of overseas visitors to this region by 25% by 2020 and delivering 2,500 new tourism jobs.
Commitments include:
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helping ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’ continue to celebrate all that is best about the region with a £1 million investment to support a cultural festival in 2016, building on the success of their first festival in 2014
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committing to a new fund of £500,000 that will support a new rural marketing campaign aimed at bringing international tourists to the region
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boosting the region’s cycling legacies infrastructure with £450,000 towards creating a new cycle gateway to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This project will transform a 2.5 mile section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, centred around Skipton, helping to create a cycle gateway to the Yorkshire Dales
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supporting the arts with £1.5 million towards the refurbishment of the Ferens Gallery in Hull to help support Hull’s aspiration to host the Turner prize as part of the UK City of Culture programme in 2017 and to help create a lasting cultural legacy
The Chancellor also set out an aspiration to cement Yorkshire as the home of British cycling following the stunning success of the Tour de France last year and ahead of the highly anticipated Tour de Yorkshire this summer, in particular backing any proposals to bring the World Road Championships to the region.
While at Grassington National Park Centre, the Chancellor also met young apprentices who are getting the chance to learn how to look after the beautiful landscape of the National Park thanks to the Dales Rural Trainee Scheme.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said:
Yorkshire has a unique culture and sense of identity, something with is renowned up and down the country. As part of our long-term economic plan for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, today I am committing funding that will boost tourism, create jobs and attract major cultural and sporting events.
Cycling Minister Robert Goodwill said:
The legacy of the 2012 Olympics and the Tour de France in Yorkshire saw more people get on their bikes and experience the many benefits that cycling has to offer.
This government has made a record commitment to cycling and this funding will help boost tourism in the Yorkshire Dales - one of this country’s most beautiful areas and, as a Yorkshire MP, an area that is especially close to my heart.