Ticket sales 'stronger than 2015' for JORVIK Viking Festival

Increased ticket sales could indicate the start of a recovery for York’s tourism sector, according to the organisers of the annual JORVIK Viking Festival, which has revealed a 10% increase in ticket sales for this year’s events compared with the weeks leading up to the 2015 Festival.

Many of the key events in this year’s programme, including the Viking banquet, Brawl at the Guildhall and the Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture, have already sold out, with ticket sales for the Festival’s grand finale on Saturday 20 February also higher than at a comparable point in 2015 – with visitors urged to book soon to avoid disappointment.

“We are hugely encouraged that the message finally does seem to be getting out that it is business as usual for most of the city of York,” comments Festival director, Danielle Daglan. “Even with the JORVIK Viking Centre closed following the December flooding, there has been a fantastic surge in interest in this year’s festival, with a number of our highlight events already sold out, and many others looking set to follow suit even before the Festival opens.”

A strong February half term will enable those businesses which rely on tourism in York to breathe a small sigh of relief, as the JORVIK Viking Festival is traditionally the first major tourist event for the city. “The sector has really pulled together in York following the floods – our Coppergate neighbour, Fenwick, has donated two windows for us to share JORVIK’s messages, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall has worked hard to be open for events and we’re getting offers of support from businesses around the city, who have pledged to make an extra special effort this half term to make sure that the Viking city of Jorvik remains in the public eye!” adds Danielle.

This year’s JORVIK Viking Festival runs from 15-21 February, although visitors to York during the first weekend of half term can meet an advance party of Vikings who are setting up camp in Coppergate from Saturday 13 February.

For more information, or to book tickets to any of the events in this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival, please visit www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk

ENDS

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    jay@pyperyork.co.uk