The value of foreign visitors to Yorkshire’s tourist attractions, including in the Bradford district, is set to rise by nearly 30 per cent over the next three years.

The region’s economy is set to get a £613 million boost from foreign tourists by 2017, according to a new report by Barclays bank.

The research reveals that a combination of looser visa restrictions and growing wealth among consumers in emerging economies such as China, is likely to drive significant growth in spending by overseas visitors.

Barclays said that with the easing of tough visa rules which had held back Yorkshire’s potential to attract visitors from places like China and the United Arab Emirates, the level of spend from Chinese tourists should nearly double to £50 million by 2017.

While the recession led to a decline in tourists from the United States, American visitors were the highest spenders, contributing £45 million to the local economy last year.

Debbie Mullen (pictured), Barclays head of corporate banking in Yorkshire, said: “There has never been a better time for retailers and the leisure industry to capitalise on visitors to Yorkshire with the (Tour de France) Grand Depart in July and the influx of visitors this will bring to the region together with the legacy it will leave.

“The importance of businesses being able to market themselves to their different audiences cannot be overstated. Whether it’s engaging with in-flight publications, working with local tourist offices, promoting their business overseas or collaborating with other retailers and leisure operators in their local environment, the benefits of targeted profile-raising can make the difference.”

Barclays said increased tourism spending was expected to lead to a boom in income for Yorkshire’s retail and leisure sector Retail was set to generate £183 million from overseas tourists in 2017, an increase of 31 per cent on 2013.

Spending on hotels, eating out and tourist attractions by overseas visitors to the region would rise 28 per cent by 2017 to £355 million.

Gary Verity chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “This is terrific news. An increase of 29 per cent in visitor spend over four years is an incredible amount and reflects the world class appeal of Yorkshire. The county is going from strength to strength and we are in no doubt that the global spotlight of the Tour de France will attract further visitors for many years to come.”

The Barclays report shows that US tourists are expected to increase spending in Yorkshire from £45 million in 2013 to £58 million in 2017 ; with Chinese tourists moving from fifth in the visitors’ league at £26 million to second at £50 million by 2017.