Archbishop receives Ambassador for Tourism Award

Archbishop celebrates receiving York tourism award

The annual York Tourism Awards, organised by Visit York, were held at the National Railway Museum on 22nd April 2010.  The award for Tourism Ambassador 2010 went to Dr John Sentamu for the role he plays both nationally and internationally in putting York on the map.

Since his arrival in the city in 2005, visitors have met the Archbishop offering open-air baptisms, he has visited flood victims in Cumbria and made visits overseas.

The Archbishop's acceptance speech is set out below:

It is a great honour to receive this award and become an Ambassador for Tourism in York.

York is one of the greatest cities in Britain. Over the last 4 years it's somewhere where me and my family have loved to call our home. It's not just the great tourist attractions we have here like the Minster, the Yorvik Viking Centre and the Railway Museum that draw people into the city – no, I put it down to the incredible people we have here in York.

Yorkshire people may be famous for being straight-talking, but they are also renowned for being warm-spirited, kind-hearted and very welcoming to our visitors. I think that's the main reason people keep coming back – and also one of the main reasons I have won this award!

One of the things I love most about being an Archbishop is being able to go out and meet people locally and hear about the wonderful things they are doing. I look at those running our restaurants and bars, our hotels and our shops, and they all have something in common, a passion for serving others, an interest in ensuring everyone has an enjoyable time here, and just that overwhelming desire to keep making York a better place to be.

And what an amazing place it is. We live in a city with incredible architecture, incredible history, and dare I say it an incredible football team!

Everyone who lives in York adds something to our local community and there is a real buzz around the city. From those at our universities and colleges, to those working in our shops and factories, to those who now live here in retirement, we all know that York is the place to be. York is on the up! Come visit us and find out for yourselves!

Thank you again for making me an ambassador for such a great city, and as they say at the Oscars: "Sorry, I can't be with you tonight to receive this award."

For further information concerning the awards and to hear the Archbishop's acceptance speech, please visit http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8116159.Archbishop_of_York_receives____ambassador____accolade_at_tourism_awards/

Photograph courtesy of The Press.