COUNCIL bosses are appealing for more time for consultations over proposed changes in the way tourism services are delivered.

North Yorkshire County Council is calling for more talks over plans which are based on a strategic tourism role for the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Also proposed is a regional tourism body to promote the region to visitors and the creation of four new destination management organisations

The tourism industry for the region is a huge money-spinner worth about £4bn a year - almost half of which benefits York and North Yorkshire.

But members of the county council's executive are unhappy at what they claim is the haste with which the proposals were being pushed through.

The executive member with responsibility for economic development, Carl Les, said: "I can't emphasise enough the importance of tourism for the economy of North Yorkshire.

"The Yorkshire Tourist Board has provided an excellent service to the industry for many years.

"To change the support for the industry without wide-scale consultation with local authorities and the industry itself would be folly. More time is needed to give proper consideration to Yorkshire Forward's proposals."

The executive is now asking for a further period of consultation; the development of a tourism strategy before the structure is imposed; and that the Yorkshire Tourist Board or any subsequent body - be clearly separate from Yorkshire Forward.