A DISTRICT council is celebrating a boost in overall visitor numbers and spend to the local economy after last year’s visitor data has been published.

Ryedale District Council has said it is delighted with a two per cent increase in overnight trips to the region and a three per cent increase in spending – compared to a decrease in overnight visits nationally by nine per cent.

Results from the Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS) show that 93 million domestic overnight trips were taken in England in 2014, a decrease of nine per cent compared with 2013.

The value of the trips has also fallen nationally by three per cent, from £18.7bn in 2013 to £18bn in 2014.

But in Ryedale, the number of trips made by visitors from abroad was up by six per cent and their spending during the trip had increased by 15 per cent compared to the previous year, and in total it is estimated that around £70m was spent by all overnight visitors, up four per cent from 2013.

A spokesman for Ryedale District Council said the authority believed this was a reflection of a strengthening economy, with more people willing to spend on leisure and holiday activities.

In total, approximately £213m was spent on trips to the district in 2014 by overnight and day visitors, up four per cent compared to 2013, and 30 per cent of that expenditure was made by domestic staying visitors, three per cent by overseas staying visitors and 67 per cent by day visitors.

Cllr Linda Cowling, leader of Ryedale District Council said: “We’re obviously delighted with these results and they reflect the positive feedback we’ve had with local tourism businesses in the last twelve months about trade being buoyant in all parts of the district.

“We firmly believe that the whole tourism industry working together to improve the visitor offer is the key to success. What Ryedale has to offer - strong calendar of events, quality attractions and lots of choice about where people can stay and dine, combined with how these elements are promoted - is getting better all the time."

Will Oxley, chairman of the Ryedale Tourism Advisory Board added: "This is fantastic news and reflects the hard work that the private sector businesses and Ryedale District Council, working with partners such as Welcome to Yorkshire, Visit York and Visit Hull and East Yorkshire , have been doing to promote the area.”