THE Grand Depart of the Tour de France proved to be a huge boost for the region’s tourism capital.
York hosted the second day of the spectacular event last July and new figures reveal it generated £8.3m for the city’s economy.
An estimated 200,000 spectators lined the route on race day to see the once in a lifetime event – while a further 18.6m people tuned in around the world to see the peloton roll through the historic streets.
The figures were released in a report to the city’s cabinet on the economic benefits of the race on the weekend itself and for years to come in terms of national and international profile, inward investment, and the number of visitors.
After the weekend 94 per cent of York residents surveyed felt that the event had been positive for the local area, while 72 per cent of visitors said their image of Yorkshire had been enhanced.
In the three month period after the event, 44 per cent of non-residents who visited to watch stages one or two have visited Yorkshire again.
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