TOURIST attractions across North Yorkshire are celebrating after scooping the bulk of the title at prestigious countywide competition to promote tourism.

Nine of the recent White Rose Awards run by Welcome to Yorkshire went to venues in the North Yorkshire area.

The competition is held yearly and the coveted awards are seen in the business as the Oscars of the tourism industry.

Tourism bosses are keen to promote the industry which they claim is worth £6.5bn annually 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 picked up the small hotel of the year title.

Jill Rhatigan, Feversham Arms owner, 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 was presented with two titles the large visitor attraction and the sustainable tourism award.

Sasha Jackson, Harlow’s marketing manager, said: "We were really thrilled and to have got both awards was amazing.

"These are the first time we have won a White Rose Award and it’s really lovely to have got the awards."

The visitor information award went to Malton Tourist Information Centre which saw off the five other offices including nearby Pickering.

Les Clarke, Ryedale’s tourist information centre manager, said: "I am delighted to see the team receive this prestigious award.

"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 of the year: Burgate, Pickering; small visitor attraction of the year: 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, Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, 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."