10/12/2009

Figures show that over 95,000 people enjoyed this year's annual Christmas Fayre, organised by City of York Council, which offered an array of markets across the city featuring unique gifts and crafts from across Yorkshire and the UK.  Visitors to the market were also able to purchase the very best in local farm produce courtesy of the region's ‘Deliciously Yorkshire' members.

Saturday proved to be the most popular day, with an estimated 62,000 people hitting the streets of York to browse the stalls.  Visitors came from all across the UK to visit the atmospheric market festival, including the Midlands, the North West, the South East, and further afield from Scotland and Wales. 

Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York, said ‘This year's St Nicholas Fayre has proved as popular as ever with visitors and residents alike, and continues to be a major highlight in York's Christmas calendar.  York's festive season continues until the end of December with the Festival of Angels coming up this weekend, the International Christmas Fayre in Parliament Street running until 20 December and the Farmers Market on 22 December, as well as a whole host of other festivities running across the city.  With so much to offer visitors at this time of year, we're confident that York is set to have a very successful Christmas season.'

For regular updates on what's happening in York and at the city's visitor attractions, or for a free guide to Christmas in the City, visit www.visityork.org/Christmas, telephone Visitor Information on 01904 550099 or email info@visityork.org ENDS

Press Contact: For more information, please contact Kay Hyde, PR Manager, Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org 

Notes to the Editor:

Key Christmas Dates:

·         Festival of Angels - 12/13 December 2009 

·         Made in Yorkshire Christmas Market - Until 13 December 2009

·         International Christmas Fayre - Until 20 December 2009 

·         Christmas Farmers' Market - 22 December 2009 

·         Ice Factor Ice Rink - Until 3 January 2010

·         York Theatre Royal Pantomime - Humpty Dumpty - 10 December until 30 January 2010

·         Grand Opera House Pantomime - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 11 December until 3 January 2010

Visit York

·         Visit York is the official tourism body for York and the surrounding area.

·         Visit York is supported by Welcome to Yorkshire and City of York Council. Yorkshire Forward, The Regional Development Agency, funds Welcome to Yorkshire, which is charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber visitor economy.

·         Visit York is the driving force of the city's tourism industry. Key facts include:

-          the city welcomed 4.09 million visitors (2007/08)

-          £364 million visitor spend (2007/08)

-          80% of visitors to the city were repeat visitors (2007/08)

(09/09 figures to be confirmed shortly)

·         The Chairman is John Yeomans and the Chief Executive is Gillian Cruddas. 

·         Visit York's aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor, and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York.  Visit York is responsible for leisure and conference marketing, visitor services (running the city's Visitor Information Centre), training and developing the tourism product. 

• Tourism generates over 10,000 jobs in York
• 13% of visitors are from overseas - 08/09 (around a third of these from North America)
• Top overseas markets include USA, Germany, Netherlands and Spain.