TOURIST attractions are celebrating after winning accolades at a competition to promote tourism.

Nine of this year’s annual White Rose Awards, run by the Welcome to Yorkshire tourism group, went to venues in the North Yorkshire area.

Tourism bosses said that the industry is worth about £6.5bn a year to the local economy.

Among this year’s winners was The Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa, in Helmsley, and the RHS Garden Harlow Carr, near Harrogate.

The Feversham Arms, on the North York Moors, was named small hotel of the year.

Its owner, Jill Rhatigan, said: “We feel very proud to have won amongst such a high calibre of finalists. The award is a great achievement for our team and we look forward to promoting Yorkshire as a fantastic tourist destination.”

Harlow Carr won large visitor attraction and the sustainable tourism award.

Sasha Jackson, from the garden, said: “To have got both awards was amazing.

“This is the first time we have won a White Rose Award.”

The visitor information award went to Malton Tourist Information Centre.

Centre spokesman Les Clarke said: “The team has worked very hard over the last few years and the award recognises how well it has worked.”

The other North Yorkshire winners were bed and breakfast – Burgate, Pickering; small visitor attraction – The Walled Garden, near Malton; self-catering cruisers award – The Dovecote Barns, York; business tourism award – the National Railway Museum; best tourism experience – York Maze.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The judges had a particularly tough time this year due to the high calibre of entries.

“Yorkshire’s tourism industry has had an exceptional couple of years and the White Rose Awards are an excellent example of why.”