TOURISM is now worth a whacking £8 billion to the region’s economy.

The flabbergasting figure was revealed at a major event staged by Welcome to Yorkshire.

Draws such as Haworth, which attracts Bronte enthusiasts from across the world, and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway are among big contributors.

The £8 billion – unveiled at the Y18 conference at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre – is 14 per cent up on 2011, when the last research was carried out.

The latest figure comes following an independent study conducted by Sheffield Hallam University.

During the conference, attended by around 1,000 people and coinciding with English Tourism Week, Welcome to Yorkshire also announced multi-million pound marketing campaigns to boost tourism – which will see the county promoted both at home and globally.

The initiative will include adverts in cinemas and on radio and TV, as well as in magazines.

Also, £1 million has been pledged from the Discover England Fund – led by Visit England – to promote Yorkshire as a top cycling holiday destination.

Interest in cycling across the region took-off following the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014, which came through the Keighley district.

And people’s pedalling passion has been further fuelled by the hugely-successful Tour de Yorkshire, which this year arrives in the district on May 6.

Welcome to Yorkshire is now to create bookable tourism products targetting travellers from Germany and the Netherlands.

Another new campaign – in partnership with Bradford Council – will boost the district’s food and drink scene with trails, special offers and reviews by top food writers and bloggers.

Sir Gary Verity, Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive, said the conference had been “epic”.

“It has been a fantastic showcase for Yorkshire – with some huge announcements which demonstrate once again that the county is leading the way,” he added.

“It’s fabulous news that tourism in Yorkshire is now worth an incredible £8 billion to the county’s economy.

“Add to that record-breaking visitor numbers that many of our top attractions have had, and it just goes to show how strong the Yorkshire brand really is.

“We are on an all-time high and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone’s hard work.

“Yorkshire is competing on a global scale to be a top visitor destination.”

Among those at the conference were stars of stage, screen and sport.

The guest list included reigning Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire champion Lizzie Deignan, who announced a Bradford start for next year’s UCI Road World Cycling Championships.