By ANISAH ARIF
A recently published report into tourism in the Bradford district proves that it is living up to the “Emerging Luxury Destination in Europe Award”.
Bradford received the award from The Luxury Travel Guide earlier this year.
The Cambridge Report displayed the amount of overnight trips made by visitors from abroad increased by 10 per cent compared to 2016.
The report also demonstrates that around £134 million was spent by overnight visitors on trips to Bradford in 2017 which is an increase of 3 percent.
11.8 million tourist day trips were made to the Bradford district in 2017, a rise of 2 per cent compared to 2016 and has also identified a 5 percent increase in the amount spent by day trippers.
The Bradford District tourist industry is now worth around £680.6 million, a 4 per cent increase from £656 million in 2016. It employs over 1000 more people than it did in 2016 with around 14, 531 jobs, an increase of 7 per cent, supported by the tourism industry in 2017.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “These figures show tourism is continuing to thrive in our district. We are seeing more and more UK and overseas visitors coming to the district to spend their time and money.
“We have so much to offer visitors including fantastic events like Bingley Music Live, the award winning Bradford Literature Festival, the Bradford Festival and Illuminate. Our amazing Sparkling Bradford Christmas campaign has lots of festive fun for people enjoy in the run up to the big day. Also who can forget the stunning spectacles put on for when the Tour de Yorkshire comes to the district?
“With excellent museums and galleries, including the National Science and Media Museum, the district continues to draw visitors from far and wide to see the world-class installations and exhibitions that we put on.”
Patricia Tillotson, Visitor and Business Development Manager at Bradford Council, said: “Bradford is a cultural city with a flourishing arts scene. Our beautiful Alhambra Theatre, hosts West End productions and one of the most popular Pantomime’s in Yorkshire.
“Our district has amazing countryside, combined with the former home of literary greats, such as the Bronte’s, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is first ever UNESCO City of Film and it is the Curry Capital of Britain, having won the title for six years in a row. The Bradford district has seen visitor numbers and tourism spend in the district increase year on year and this report confirms that Bradford is living up to its Emerging Destination accolade.”
Bradford was once considered to be the wool capital of the world and is now proud to be the first ever UNESCO City of Film. The City Park, a brilliant award-winning high tech water feature, adds to the latest of features in Bradford. The Bradford Broadway has also attracted customers from all over the United Kingdom. Ian Ward, General Manager of Broadway, also chaired and won the BID Initiative which will see funding into leisure establishments and businesses.
He told us: “The BID is working in the background at the moment, we’re putting an office and interviews together to sort everything out. The BID won’t come to life until December. Two and a half million pound investment in the City Centre which can only be good news to Bradford.
The Broadway opened its doors in 2015, with new retailers and The Light Cinema being recently introduced, gave Bradford a strong push of reaching towards of being a leisure destination.
