It's a No-Brainer, Really........

We said in an earlier post that we'd had a question regarding why we were promoting tourism in North Yorkshire during a lockdown. It was a perfectly pleasant exchange and we answered fully with detail, which the questioner seemed to appreciate and accept.

But it's not always like that and this week has seen a similar line of questioning from a Harrogate-based account on Twitter, but this time all they seemed to be interested in was stating "closed for business, stay away & don't look", or words to that effect.

This is sad and extremely short-sighted, not to mention potentially damaging to the tourism industry - already on its knees after a year of, quite frankly, Hell.

Today has seen an article in The Guardian, "Britons look 'beyond usual UK hotspots' this summer." With the sub-heading, "Less familiar destinations expected to benefit from pent-up demand as many opt not to go abroad", the author, Archie Bland, discusses the current situation in tourism in general, with a focus on the domestic "staycation" market in particular.

It's quite clear, the vast majority of Britons will be looking to holiday at "home" this year, staying within the borders of dear old Blighty and sampling the multiple delights that our own country has to offer. And quite right too.

People are looking for even the slightest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Working on the idea, probably quite reasonably, that by the back end of June, freedoms should have been restored, certainly as far as moving around internally in the UK mainland is concerned.

But if people are looking to take a holiday in July, August or September when are they going to look? When are they going to do their searches? 

The answer is obvious: THEY ARE LOOKING NOW!

Holiday bookings are a perfect example of the market economy - first come, first served. Leave it too late and you'll be at the back of the queue and looking at pitching your tent in the back garden and pretending that's all you wanted to do anyway.

It's a no-brainer, really. It happened last year after all, when as soon as Lockdown #1 was lifted there was a rush to domestic locations. Accommodation providers found themselves booked solid, deluged and handed a fleeting opportunity to make up some of the money they had lost, through no fault of their own, earlier in that horrendous year.

What is amazing and unbelievable is that there are still some who advocate a total halt to all tourism promotion until the current Lockdown is over. Why would any sensible person suggest that?

People will still be looking - keep your head down stay off the radar and all they will do is GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! Nobody who has even a passing interest in tourism in North Yorkshire would want that - it's nothing short of business suicide.

So as with our previous post, linked at the top of the page, we will carry on with our policy of relentlessly promoting North Yorkshire as a tourism destination and shouting from the rooftops (not literally, it can get slippery up there) about our wonderful members!

It has been questioned why, especially in these days of much reduced income, why those running businesses involved in tourism, would subscribe to organisations that effectively wind down their operations and fall silent at times like this. These are the times they should be upping the proverbial ante!

James Mason of W2Y is quoted in the Guardian article (as W2Y always seem to be) mentioning places "off the beaten track". Go back to last year, you will see multiple posts from us advocating visits to lesser known places, under the title of "Off the Beaten Track". Places such as Flaxton, Crackpot, Boulby, Thornton Rust, Scorton, Coldstones Cut, Helwith, Bolton Percy, Selside, Beck Hole and Commondale for example! They do need to keep up!

At the start of Lockdown #1 in April 2020, we appeared on BBC Look North and advocated staycations, booking ahead to avoid disappointment and paying deposits to help businesses keep their heads above water. We were ahead of the curve then and continue to be so today. We relentlessly promote tourism in North Yorkshire and for that we will apologise to no-one.

Consider joining Visiting North Yorkshire - Be part of the North Yorkshire Story.

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Membership of Visiting North Yorkshire is £195 per year.
£50 discount available by quoting "YO1 Radio".
Web: visitingnorthyorkshire.com

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