Member Article

North East has worldwide appeal, new study shows

North East England is being promoted abroad on an unprecedented scale, thanks to Harry Potter and Hadrian’s Wall, a new survey reveals. The International Passenger Survey shows a six percent increase in international tourists visiting the region, and with representatives of the region attending trade fairs in Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Ireland during the spring and there are already signs that these trips are starting to make a difference.Germany’s interest in Harry Potter has made North East England the second most popular page on the national EnjoyEngland website as fans log on to find more about Alnwick Castle which has been used as a location for the films. The Netherlands call centre has received more calls about Hadrian’s Wall than any other attraction in the UK.Durham Cathedral and Castle, NewcastleGateshead and the Captain Cook Birthplace museum are among the other iconic attractions causing visitors to show an interest in the region. To make it even easier for people to discover these and other locations, the www.visitnortheastengland.com website and a number of brochures have been translated into Norwegian, Dutch, German, Swedish and Italian. As well as promoting the region’s Coast and Countryside, History and Heritage, City Culture and friendly welcome, One NorthEast is also assembling a database of international contacts including travel firms and trade press that already contains over 2000 names. This will be used to distribute an e-newsletter that will be used to keep people up to date with what’s happening in the region and make sure North East England at the front of peoples’ minds.One NorthEast’s Tourism Marketing Manager Kelly Walton said; “The region has never had a better profile abroad thanks to the work of the international marketing team. Competition for international visitors is fierce but working closely with partners across the region we are able to promote a comprehensive tourism package that is proving attractive to visitors.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .