REPORTS that Yorkshire is experiencing a big increase in people holidaying in the county are welcome news for the area and its businesses. Tourism is vital to the rural economy and we are fortunate to have go-ahead organisations, such as Welcome to Yorkshire, fighting this part of the country’s corner by highlighting its fantastic range of attractions and its qualities as a holiday destination.

As well as the staycation trend of Britons holidaying at home rather than abroad, it is also pleasing to learn that overseas visitors are contributing to the county’s record number of tourists.

At the Wensleydale Creamery’s Visitor Centre, we are playing our part in attracting visitors to this beautiful region. It, too, has seen a bigger influx of visitors and last Tuesday it experienced a record day following the opening of the first phase of a £800,000 expansion.

It already attracts more than 200,000 people a year and, with the expansion, we expect 50,000 more to come through the doors annually.

David Hartley, Managing Director, Wensleydale Creamery, Hawes, North Yorkshire