WHAT better way to help the region through recession than to bring thousands of visitors to the area, while also entertaining local people with a series of international sporting events?

East Riding Council has tried to give businesses a sporting chance to get through the economic gloom by attracting a whole host of exciting events to the area – and, in turn, tourists and visitors.

Last year, more than 40,000 people stayed in the area overnight, generating more than £5m for the economy.

And, in a bid to continue the success, East Riding Council's conference and events team has recently re-launched the East Yorkshire Events Bureau, named EY Events.

As part of the Mail's Bounce Back campaign, we have looked at the work of the team and its value to the region's economy.

The aim is to provide a varied mix of national and international events, conferences, exhibitions and festivals, attracting thousands of people to the East Riding every year.

The motive behind the relaunch is to attract visitors to the East Riding by developing, promoting and delivering high quality events, providing a boost to the perception of the area and a huge positive impact on the local economy.

Councillor Andy Burton, East Riding Council's portfolio holder for community engagement and local economic development, said: "EY Events has a vital part to play in drawing in more people to visit the East Riding.

"With a diverse range of events on offer, it is hoped that more and more people will be attracted to the area, boosting the economy and profile of the East Riding."

And so far so good for EY Events, which has already managed to increase their business by 30 per cent so far this year, resulting in 52,000 bed nights and generating £7.5m for the economy.

EY Events organises a large number of international sporting events such as the Winmau World Masters Darts Championship, which is coming up in September and will be screened live on the BBC, the World and Masters Blackball Pool event, and the European Open Beach Championships, which is now the biggest three-day beach angling tournament in Europe.

Other large national events attracting visitors from all over the UK have included the British Kite Surfing Championships, Bridlington Crown Green Masters Bowls, UK Windsurfing Championships, British Open Darts Championship and the Men's National Cycle Circuit Race.

The service also provides an eclectic mix of live entertainment for music lovers, including the hugely popular Northern Soul Weekender in Bridlington, the Driffield Folk Festival and East Yorkshire's answer to Glastonbury, Tribfest, which is being held at Beverley Polo Club in Tickton.

Cllr Burton said: "These high profile events greatly benefit the local and regional economy. They also hugely increase the profile of the East Riding, both nationally and internationally.

"I'm confident that once people have attended one of the excellent events we have to offer locally, they will keep coming back.

"The events bureau is lucky to have access to The Spa Bridlington as our main venue for indoor events, which in turn has helped make the first year of the venue's re-opening a storming success following its refurbishment."

The Winmau World Masters darts championships, which will run from September 4 to September 6, attracts about 400 competitors from all over the world, with players from 70 countries.

It is preceded by the Lakeside World Championships Darts play-offs, which is held on Thursday, September 3, and creates an estimated 5,000 bed nights with an income of £750,000 coming into the local economy.

For the first time Bridlington will also host the British Kite Surfing Association's National Championships from September 4 to September 6. It will be one of seven UK championships that takes place every year, and seen by a total audience of 50,000 spectators.

Kite surfing is a three-dimensional extreme sport that has evolved from wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding and kite flying, with competitors being able to pull 15 to 25ft jumps and aerial tricks.

Glen Holmes, president of the Bridlington Hotel and Guest House Association, said: "Some of the events are nicely timed for us at the end of the holiday season, which gives us that extra boost.

"Apart from the extra visitors coming to the area for the events, it's also nice to be able to tell visitors about what is coming up in the future, which could lead to them coming back.

"It certainly has a huge impact, and just looking at the major darts events, we see the same people coming year after year.

"East Riding Council is doing a really good job attracting these sort events, and what they bring to the town is brilliant."