A draft tourism plan for the east of North Yorkshire has been drawn up by the Moors & Coast Area Tourism Partnership (ATP).

The ATP was launched in April this year and is a private and public sector consortium – including local councils and the North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority – that “seeks to support the growth of the tourism economy and maximise its benefits to businesses, residents, visitors and the environment”.

The plan outlines the issues affecting tourism in both the local and wider area as well as identify the role of the ATP and the issues it faces.

Within the nearly 1,400sq miles (3,600sq km) of land in the ATP’s jurisdiction, tourism supports 13,474 jobs – which equates to 13 per cent of the workforce – and generates around £613m of expenditure a year.

Key issues of the plan include the environment, business performance and the strength of the sector, image and branding, quality of experience, visitor management and market intelligence. Details: www.ryedale.gov.uk

Photo: The launch of Moors & Coast Area Tourism Partnership at Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley. Photo shows ATP board members from left: John Fletcher, Ena Dent, Cllr Chris Parkin, Ian Ashton, Cllr David Jeffels, Clive Rowe-Evans. Foreground: Ben from Falconry UK with Boris the Golden Eagle