Member Article

VisitBritain to bring flagship event to NewcastleGateshead

NewcastleGateshead will host VisitBritain’s annual flagship travel trade event, ExploreGB, next year where hundreds of international buyers will descend on the region to meet travel trade suppliers from across the UK.

This year’s ExploreGB, held this week in Brighton, saw more than 400 international buyers from 40 countries do business with 430 travel industry suppliers from across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The event gives UK tourism suppliers and local destinations a valuable opportunity to get their products and services in front of hundreds of international buyers and do business with global markets, boosting visitor numbers and spreading the economic benefits of tourism across the UK’s nations and regions.

Previous destinations to host ExploreGB are Liverpool in 2015 and Ascot in 2014. Last year was a record-breaker for inbound tourism to the UK with 37.3 million visits, up 3.4% on 2015, with visitors spending £22.2 billion, matching 2015’s record spend.

Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “We’re very excited to be working in partnership with VisitBritain to bring their flagship event to NewcastleGateshead.

“The event itself will provide a boost to the local economy and will be a fantastic opportunity to not only showcase NewcastleGateshead, and the wider region, to international buyers, but will be an opportune time to present Great Exhibition of the North and the full programme of art, culture and innovation, which will commence in the following months.

“Visitor spend in North East England is an estimated £4.2bn each year and is a key contributor to our local economy, supporting almost 60,000 jobs.

“Our Convention Bureau worked closely with both VisitBritain and our partner venues to ensure we put forward a strong bid for NewcastleGateshead. Delegates will be able to explore the huge variety of experiences NewcastleGateshead has to offer tourism visitors, and will see how these experience will be amplified through Great Exhibition of the North in summer 2018.”

Sally Balcombe, VisitBritain Chief Executive, added: “We are delighted to be bringing ExploreGB to NewcastleGateshead and the north east of England in 2018.

“From its modern arts scene, buzzing quayside and lively cafés to its striking architecture and first-class conference facilities, NewcastleGateshead is a fantastic destination and a great base for our international buyers to start their tours across Britain.

“As the city will also be hosting the Great Exhibition of the North 2018 it will certainly be the moment to drive visits and international growth from tourism to the regions.”