Wednesday Market Broadcast Is Thought Provoking

Wednesday Market Broadcast Is Thought Provoking

BBC Radio Humberside were broadcasting this morning from Beverley in Wednesday Market asking people about what can be done to improve the number tourists into the region.

Presenter spoke to number of locals in Beverley, including Barbara English, who revealed the massive decline in visitors to Beverley’s most iconic land mark, Beverley Minster.

Professor English explained that Beverley Minster has seen a drop of over 40,000 since the 1990s while or neighbours in York and Lincoln have doubled their figures.

David Burns seemed stunned to learn that in the 1990s around 100,000 visitors went to Minster while last number of recorded visits was down to 57,000.

The fall in numbers is being put down to parking charges and also the lack of coach parking facilities in the town, a feeling that in part was shared by the top man at the Minster .

Rev Jeremy Fletcher agreed there had been a drop in figures though said over the past ten years Beverley Minster averaged about 60,000 people a year through his doors, he also added that people were now more generous donating more!

It also is thought that travel companies are by passing Beverley as bringing coaches into the town presents many logistical issues, ones they do not face in neighbouring York so missing out on valuable footfall.

Julian Minshall from the Beverley Chamber of Trade was also interviewed; he called for more co-ordination with how the towns key events are organised while pointing out the beauty of the town centre as place to visit.

the town clerk said that Beverley was a unique place to visit, she spoke about the four-season food events and the work being done by to promote local food and local food producers.

There was however a sense that people were not keen on seeing Beverley over run with tourists, indeed the Dutch couple who were interviewed said as much suggesting it ‘stays the same’.

The show is on the iPlayer and well worth a listen, a lot more people were interviewed, and its gives quite a good insight into tourism in the town and the region as a whole. It is quite thought provoking and with that in mind I came up the list below.

Ten Reasons To Visit Beverley

1. Beverley Minster
2. / Treasure House
3. Saturday Market
4. Food Festival
5. Festival of Christmas
6. Cycle Race – British Cycling
7. Classic Car Show
8. St Mary’s Church
9. Beverley Town Trail
10. Elwell-Trail

These are all things most of us living here would have experienced, I also think they represent some of the reasons why people may either jump in a car or get on a boat and visit Beverley. There are lots missing off the list, and others that have been relocated to other venues.

Tribfest being relocated was a massive blow for Beverley, I know because the retailers in the town told me so. The impact of the Beverley Folk Festival moving to the Racecourse on sales figures in the town will only be known after this first event has taken place.

With the Folk Festival moving it now has the chance to grow and become a much bigger event and unlike Tribfest it still remains quite close to the town centre, how you tease the festival goers away from the Racecourse is the million dollar question.

Today’s show certainly got me thinking, to hear so many different views and opinions from a broad spectrum of people.



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