A TOTAL of 6.8m visitors spent a record breaking £608million in York in 2014, tourism chiefs have revealed.

The figure for spending was up by six per cent on the previous year’s figure of £573million.

Demonstrating how important the tourism industry is to the North Yorkshire city, it now supports 20,300 jobs, which accounts for one in five of all jobs.

Meanwhile, an annual visitor satisfaction survey showed that four per cent of visitors that year were from overseas and spent £49million.

Americans represented 18 per cent of all overseas visitors, followed by Germans (13 per cent), French (nine per cent), Chinese (eight per cent) and Australians (seven per cent).

York’s attractions enjoyed their second most successful year ever in 2014, with 3.1m visitors going through their doors, four per cent lower than the record of 3.4m visitors set in 2013.

Results for the year end 2015, will be known at the end of this year.

Kate McMullen, head of tourism at Make It York, said: “Whether here for a holiday or business trip, by spending in our hotels, shops and restaurants it’s clear that visitors contribute significantly to the city.

“Our aim has always been to concentrate on increasing the value of tourism in York, so we’re delighted with these latest results and we will continue to build on this success.”