Tourism in Yorkshire and Humber is set to benefit from a major funding boost after the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, announced that it will invest £30m in the sector.

The funding, which represents a 59 per cent increase over the next three years, will be used to attract new public and private sector investment and to improve the co-ordination of existing spending on the region's tourism industry. Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) will deliver the scheme which is expected to result in a £300m increase in regional visitor spend per year, with the sector already worth £6.1bn to the local economy.

One of the initiatives YTB will use the funding for is a new global marketing campaign to promote Yorkshire as one of the UK's foremost visitor destinations, as well as showcasing some of the region's transformed towns and cities, including Sheffield and Scarborough. Terry Hodgkinson, chair of Yorkshire Forward, said: "Tourism is a significant driver in Yorkshire and Humber's economy and represents one of the largest sectors in the region, which is why we are making this investment to grow this further.

"Yorkshire Forward's increased investment is a testimony to the significance and growing importance of the tourism sector in the regional economy." YTB chief executive, Gary Verity, added: "On the back of Yorkshire Forward's investment, Yorkshire Tourist Board and our regional tourism partners are committed to taking tourism to the next level.

"We will capitalise upon our strengths and build upon our rich heritage, but reinvigorate our image to promote our diverse and contemporary tourism offering."