Tourism
We represent a diverse range of residents, and aim to ensure that the visitor economy is responsive to the concerns of local people, preserves the character of the city and provides long-term benefits for all.
As an independent coalition, YRK’s autonomy enables it to offer up a critical overview of the tourism sector, while empowering local people through participative democracy, community research, and collaborative policy engagement.
York Residents Know has the remit to capture residents priorities to shape York’s Tourism strategy action plan, managed by York’s Tourism Advisory Board, around the priority area:
Residents Voice and Localhood:
‘Residents and Localhood: Local people experience the very best of their city and wider region alongside visitors, with tourism contributing to the quality of life in York and beyond
In 2024–25 we asked residents how York could better balance tourism with everyday life. Your input shaped 22 actions now part of the strategy and already being delivered. We’re still listening — share your experiences and ideas below, and we’ll pass them to York’s Tourism Advisory Board.
2007
Tourism strategy recommended that the City of York Council strengthened its tourism partnership to a single organisation, and referenced ‘residents’, “To ensure that the future needs of all visitors and residents are taken fully into account in developing the needs of present day visitors’.
2008
Visit York was created, a single organisations to deliver a coordinated approach for York to maintain itself as a premier visitor destination.
2019
City of York Council launch ‘Talk York’ consultation, that consulted with all tourism stakeholders including residents. This consultation underpinned the ‘York Narrative’ into the perceptions of York.
2020
City of York Council commission Group Nao to carry out research in to what tourism is right for York. Concluding that destination management has to include its residents.
2024
York Tourism Advisory Board launch a new tourism strategy with clear actions for residents involvement.
Good Organisation in partnership with York St John University undertake research into ‘Community-led Sustainable Tourism’ and recommend residents have a voice in shaping the strategy.
2025
Good Organisation are funded through the Institute of Social Justice to involve residents voice in shaping the strategy. York Residents Know is launched.
Read the ‘Community-led Sustainable Tourism, research
The research offers deeper insights into many of the underlying issues, drawing upon information that was captured through an online survey, in-depth interviews, and from two community conversation sessions with local residents.
It also uncovers the rapid growth of York’s visitor economy and the strategies which have underpinned that, while providing key examples of community-led tourism approaches from across the world that could be replicated locally.The research can be viewed through the full-report, a short documentary or dip into the zine for a quick summary.
York’s Tourism Strategy
This strategy has been co-produced by the city, with extensive consultation with a breadth of stakeholders from across York and the wider region, led by the York Tourism Advisory Board.
Its foundations have been built on insights, trends, research and reflection and is the beginning of a bold new approach putting our communities, our people, our visitors, our businesses and our environment at the very heart of the strategy.
York’s Tourism Advisory Board now includes representation from York residents, through the Good Organisation. Leave feedback below that will continue to shape York’s Tourism into the future.
Community Research Lead
Natasha Almond
York Residents Know Volunteer Team
Chris Weeks, Heather Disley, Alice Maynard, Dr Simon Woodward and Dr Brian Jones
Graphic Design
Justin Grasty
