Sightseeing bus and boat prove just the ticket for tourists
Story published: 21 September 2010
A boom in passengers flocking to Leeds' new sightseeing bus and boat tours this summer has led them to be extended for an extra month.
The Leeds City Sightseeing Bus and the Leeds City Cruises Boat have seen a huge surge in passenger numbers since they were both launched in May, with more than 9,400 visitors jumping aboard the bus and boat combined.
The city's sightseeing bus has seen weekly passenger numbers rocket by as much as 164 per cent, and the boat by as much as 150 per cent at times since they were launched.
In its first three months, bus for bus, the Leeds service welcomed aboard around three times more passengers than some similar tours in other cities.
As a result, the influx of sightseers has seen weekly revenue soar for both services too - with the bus up by as much as 400 per cent and the city cruise up by as much as 500 per cent at times since the May launch.
This has allowed Welcome to Yorkshire - the county's official tourism agency - to reinvest in and extend both the sightseeing bus and city cruise until the end of October, meaning more people can enjoy the attractions beyond the planned September 26 end date including during half term holidays.
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "Not only have the sightseeing bus and boat tours proved to be hugely popular, they have also exceeded expectations.
"The services have boosted tourism economy by bringing paying customers onto the bus and boat who can then get on and off throughout the city and spend money in the shops, restaurants and attractions that are on offer throughout both routes.
"They are great value for money as you can use the bus tickets on both services, they are valid for up to 24 hours and you can jump on and off as many times as you like.
"The tickets are also priced less than other sightseeing tours in similar sized cities to ensure value for money for all our residents and visitors. We would encourage everyone to try a trip on both the bus and the boat and enjoy our fine city from a different angle this autumn."
Welcome to Yorkshire also held a free weekend for local residents in July which led to an extra bus being rolled out to cope with added demand. In total, around 1,220 people used both the bus and boat during the week of the free weekend.
Both offer visitors the chance to learn about the history of Leeds and explore the city. The distinctive open top double-decker bus offers a 'hop on, hop off' sightseeing service and the five-mile route includes Millennium Square, the Corn Exchange and the Victoria Quarter.
Leeds City Cruises takes visitors along Leeds' waterways historical route from Clarence Dock to Brewery Wharf and on to Granary Wharf. For more information on timetables, routes and prices visit www.Yorkshire.com
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Interview opportunity: Peter Myers, Welcome to Yorkshire's West Yorkshire chief executive, is available for interview. Please contact Graham Poucher for more details.
Editors' Notes:
- Welcome to Yorkshire is the official tourism body for Yorkshire, working to grow the county's visitor economy.
- Welcome to Yorkshire is funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy.
- Key facts include:
- Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £6.5 billion annually
- The region's industry employs a quarter of a million people
- There are 209 million visits to Yorkshire each year
Please take a look at www.yorkshire.com/mediacentre where you will find Welcome to Yorkshire news, feature suggestions, a free image bank and much more.
For further information please contact:
Graham Poucher - Press Officer
Direct Line: 0113 322 3578
Email: gpoucher@yorkshire.com