Partner Article

Region makes its voice heard at tourism chief visit

NATIONAL TOURISM chief James Berresford, CEO of Visit England, yesterday visitited Newcastle to meet industry leaders from across North East England.

Invited to the area by destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative and area tourism partnership Tourism Tyne and Wear, he is attended two events hosted on behalf of the regional tourism industry to discuss current challenges and future priorities at both a regional and national level.

The meetings, which took place at The Great Hall in Newcastle’s Discovery Museum, provided an opportunity for representatives from private sector tourism businesses – from attractions and hotels to tour guides and transport operators – as well as key tourism organisations to hear first-hand how government policy is shaping the tourism agenda.

In March 2011 the existing Tourism Network North East will cease to exist as regional development agency funding for area tourism partnerships ends.

Working in collaboration NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Tourism Tyne & Wear, Northumberland Tourism, Visit County Durham and Hadrian’s Wall Heritage are forging a new tourism alliance, seeking to develop new ways of working with local and national partners to continue the successful growth of the regional visitor economy.

An estimated 63,000 jobs are now reliant on the £2.5 billion a year spent by 83 million visitors, representing 5.9% of North East GVA compared with an average 1.4% GVA from other sectors of the regional economy.

Visitor spend rose by £117m last year a three percent rise on 2008 and a six per cent increase over the past seven years.

Sarah Stewart, interim chief executive at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “We’ve invited James Berresford here today to help ensure that the region’s voice is heard.

“Tourism organisations and businesses across North East England are facing a challenging future and we hope to share our concerns, some proposed solutions, as well as exploring how we fit within the changing national agenda.”

“The North East tourism industry has achieved a great deal in the last few years, boosting visitor numbers and spend, changing outdated perceptions and dramatically raising the profile of our destinations regionally, nationally and internationally.

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