Wakefield Council has devised a plan to boost tourism and gain recognition as the UK capital of sculpture.
The Yorkshire authority hopes to capitalise on the district's status as birthplace of world-renowned sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.
Wakefield had ‘begun to emerge as a cultural visitor destination’ before the Covid pandemic, with venues like Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Hepworth Wakefield and the National Coal Mining Museum attracting tourists, according to a report to cabinet.
In 2019, the economic impact of Wakefield’s visitor economy was an estimated £507m.
After the pandemic, the council set up a core tourism team, which has created a destination management plan for the next five years.
The plan’s key objectives are to increase visitor spending, raise awareness of Wakefield as the sculpture capital of the UK, and ensure the district’s infrastructure is ready for growth.
Cabinet will discuss the plan on 18 June.
