TOURISM in the Yorkshire Dales is set for a boost following the creation of a new group in the area.

Destination Dales is made up of key local players involved in tourism and is open to any organisation or business with an interest in tourism in the Dales.

And its first task will be to host a business-to-business event on Wednesday, February 25, when it will reveal new ideas to encourage visitors to stay longer at times beyond the traditional tourist season and to help businesses to promote what is special and distinctive in their area.

It received a boost last year when the Tour de France's Grand Depart passed through the Dales, showcasing its natural beauty to millions of people across the world.

Even, before that, it was estimated that 9.5 million visitors visited the national park in 2010 - 47 per cent of whom were day visitors - and they spent an estimated £502.8 million.

The money from tourism helps to maintain the unique Dales character and environment.

Now Destination Dales is hoping to build on past successes.

Its executive board is made up from members mostly from the tourism industry and its chairman is Yorkshire businesswoman Judith Donovan (CBE), who is the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) member champion for promoting understanding.

She said: “I am extremely pleased to have such willing board members with a wealth of skills and experience. They have volunteered to give up their valuable time away from their businesses to try to make the Dales a great place to visit.”

The group members, supported by officers from the YDNPA and the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will use their contacts and networks to ensure that the benefits tourism can bring to the area are optimised – at the same time safeguarding the special qualities of the Dales. The authority will provide the secretariat.

The business-to-business event will be staged at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.

"The event will be a chance for local business people to hear about exciting new initiatives and new products for the coming season and to have their say,” said Mrs Donovan. “There will also be a networking lunch and they will have an opportunity to look behind the scenes in the newly re-developed museum, which is a popular Dales attraction.

Kathryn Beardmore, the YDNPA’s director of park services, added: “It’s important that our businesses are at the heart of tourism initiatives in the area. The Destination Dales group is very much focused on business-to-business support and we are particularly fortunate to have our member champion Mrs Donovan to lead the group and chair the event on February 25.”