27/04/2009

Stepping up its campaign to ensure success for York and Yorkshire's tourism industry this year, Visit York will today (Thursday 30th April), launch a brand new six day York Pass.

And for the first time visitors buying a York Pass will have entry to over fifty visitor attractions (increased from thirty attractions in 2008).  Visit York believes this new six day Pass, now with an additional twenty visitor attractions will prove an irresistible draw for visitors from around the UK and overseas, putting York firmly at the top of the list when it comes to choosing a UK holiday this year.

As the recession bites, one in five UK residents is expected to choose a UK break instead of an overseas trip this year and Visit York is pulling out all the stops to ensure that break is booked in York.  The Pass, which was the first of its type for York and is the sister Pass of London and New York, offers purchasers free entry to visitor attractions and additional benefits such as discounts in restaurants, shops and money off theatre tickets.   A one, two, three and now six day pass are available to buy on line or at visitor information centres - all passes now include over fifty attractions.

The Pass comes complete with a 112 page guidebook (also available in French and German) and an extended selection of discounted retail and dining offers.  As part of this new drive to bring increased tourism income into the city, the all new six day pass will offer visitors the chance to explore York and other parts of Yorkshire. A new marketing campaign promoting the pass will encourage visitors to stay in York for longer, using the six day pass and visiting attractions in York and the rest of the region.

New additions to the Pass for 2009 are: Aldborough Roman Site, Helmsley Castle, Kirkham Priory, Pickering Castle, Rievaulx Abbey, Scarborough Sealife and Marine Sanctuary, Tropical Butterly House, Wentworth Castle Gardens, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Aeroventure, Cusworth Hall, Kelham Island Museum, Magna at Rotherham and the Northern Racing College.  Visitors can explore period houses, medieval ruins, beautiful gardens, wildlife parks and world-class museums. 

With more of Yorkshire's visitor attractions taking part in the Pass this year, Visit York will be assessing the feasibility of launching a Yorkshire Pass later in the year.  Visitor attractions, shops and restaurants in the region interested in taking part are urged to get in touch.

Kate McMullen, Marketing Manager at Visit York said ‘This new six day pass is a fantastic addition to the one, two and three day pass.  By using the pass as an incentive to stay longer and explore the rest of Yorkshire too, we aim to generate more tourism income for York and the region. The six day pass offers fantastic value for money and means visitors can explore more of York and Yorkshire for less.'

Visit York will be selling the York Pass as near as Scarborough and as far away as Australia and the United States and targeting key tour operators who will package the pass for groups. 

As well as targeting visitors from across the UK and overseas, tourism chiefs are also keen to target people from across Yorkshire.  A road show starting at York and travelling to Visitor Information Centres across the region: Scarborough, Bridlington, Helmsley, Hull, Harrogate, Pickering, Malton, Sheffield and Doncaster will take place throughout the summer - the aim being to get more Yorkshire people discovering what's right on their doorstep.

Kate continued, ‘Visitors and travel trade love the York Pass and it is also excellent for residents who have friends and family visiting York. With over fifty attractions now included, we are confident that sales will continue to soar throughout 2009 and look forward to another successful year.  We believe the York Pass is one of the UK's biggest and most successful visitor attractions passes available.'

The York Pass can be purchased through York hotels and at either one of Visit York's Visitor Information Centres, Tel: 01904 550099 or www.yorkpass.com Tour operators interested in group buying and attractions interested in the Yorkshire Pass should contact Elaine Moss on 01904-554471 or email em@visityork.org   ENDS

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

Notes to the Editor:

York Pass Quotes From Happy Customers

Brilliant value for money over 3 Days , allowed us to visit attractions we otherwise may have missed! Ruth Humphreys,Birmingham

It offers a very easy convenient way of seeing the city, most importantly it is reasonably priced compared to other cities in Europe.  Kin Voon Chan, Australia

York Rocks my Socks!! -  Cindy Lim, Croydon

The Best Buy in the city - Great Value 10/10 - a must buy for all visitors - Vincent Hayes, Fife

York Pass was well worth purchasing, made a saving of £75.00 with a three day pass - Anne Mathews, Cannock

Six Day savings example - with two days in York and the rest exploring Yorkshire

Attraction Standard Adult Admission Six Day York Pass
York Minster £ 8.50 Free entry
York Castle Museum £ 7.50 Free entry
York Dungeon £13.95 Free entry
York Boat £ 7.50 
Fairfax House £ 5.00 
JORVIK £ 8.50 Free entry
Magna £ 9.95 Free entry
Yorkshire Air Museum £ 6.00 Free entry
Fountains Abbey £ 7.90 Free entry
Castle Howard £11.00 Free entry
Scarborough Sealife & Marine Sanctuary £13.95 Free entry
Guidebook £3.95 Free
Total cost £103.70 £68.00

YORK PASS Participating Attractions 2009
All offer free entry to holders of The York Pass unless stated.  Asterix * denotes NEW for this year.

City:
Barley Hall, Clifford's Tower, DIG, Fairfax House, JORVIK, Merchant Adventurer's Hall, Mickegate Bar Museum, Model Railway, Regimental Museum, Richard III Museum, Roman Bath, The Mansion House, The Quilt Museum, Treasurer's House, YorkBoat, York Brewery, York Castle Museum, York Cold War Bunker, York Dungeon, York Minster, Yorkshire Air Museum, Yorkshire Museum, Yorkwalk

Beyond York:
*Aldborough Roman Site, Black Sheep Brewery, *Burnby Hall, *Byland Abbey, *Captain Cook Museum, *Castle Howard, Creepy Crawlies, Eden Camp, *Fountains Abbey, Harewood House, *Helmsley Castle, *Kirkham Priory, Newby Hall, Nunnington Hall, *Pickering Castle, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, *Rievaulx Terrace and Temples, *Scarborough Sealife & Marine Sanctuary, Aeroventure, Cusworth Hall, Kelham Island Museum, Magna at Rotherham, Northern Racing College, *Tropical Butterfly House, *Wentworth Castle Gardens, *Yorkshire Wildlife Park, *Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Package:
* The York Pass - A smart card providing free access to over fifty attractions and much more.
* Guidebook & Maps - Full colour guidebook with maps.
* Restaurants & Cafes - Discounts and offers for formal or informal, lunch or an evening meal.
*Shopping - Discounts on designer clothes, jewellery and gifts at various York shops
* Evening Entertainment - Special offers on evening ghost tours, river cruises and theatre.
 
York Pass Prices For 2009

One Day Adult 28.00
Two Day Adult 38.00
Three Day Adult 44.00
Six Day Adult  68.00

One Day Child £18
Two Day Child £22
Three Day Child £26
Six Day Child  £44