A PLAN of action marking the path the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority intends to follow to sustain tourism in the Dales has been set out.

At next week's business meeting in Cracoe the authority will discuss the involvement it will have in the future in maintaining and increasing visitors to the Dales and strengthening the existing infrastructure for information provision.

The full implication of how a lack of visitors had a dramatic effect on the economy was starkly realised during the foot and mouth crisis in 2001.

This realisation has contributed to major changes in the way tourism is managed nationally and regionally.

The Sustainable Tourism Position Statement, which has not yet been completed, sets out the authority's purposes - that of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the park while at the same time promoting opportunities for people to come to the area to enjoy its facilities.

In pursuing this course of action the national park authority will look at fostering the economic and social well-being of local communities within its area while taking forward the development of its action plan.

And while the authority will not be taking the lead in promoting the national park for tourism, it will work alongside its partners such as the Dales Tourism Forum and the Yorkshire Dales Joint Promotion Initiative.

Its own role is to work as a key regional influencer, working to ensure that sustainable tourism is high on the agenda of its relevant partners.

Future activities set out in the position statement include assisting tourism operators to link their businesses to sustainable practices such as local visitor payback schemes, promotion of long-distance walking routes, promotion of local produce and crafts, encouraging extended visits and overnight stays, and extending the traditional holiday season to benefit employment, investment and retention of staff.

Other sustainable initiatives will include developing, promoting and facilitating heritage events and tourism, promoting opportunities through public transport, accommodation and cycle tourism while maintaining and improving the rights of way network.

Within the next 12 months the national park authority is to produce a final action plan which will detail its current tourism activities, define objectives and set targets.

This will act as a five-year forward plan of proposed sustainable tourism initiatives.

In her report which will be presented at the meeting, visitor services manager Julie Barker says: "These are exciting times for tourism and hopefully for tourism in the Dales.

"In the form of the Regional Development Agencies there is a new driver behind the regional tourism agenda, keen to try new approaches.

"With the Sustainable Tourism Position Statement in hand, the authority will work to influence this agency for the good of national park purposes and the social and economic well-being of our local communities."

Members are to be asked to approve the position statement at next Tuesday's meeting.