Mayor unveils tourism growth plans

A regeneration boss has outlined ambitious plans to boost tourism and economic growth across the North East amid continuing financial pressures on businesses and households.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness shared her vision for the area during a Durham Business Club event held at the Radisson Blu hotel in Durham.

Speaking to an audience of around 100 guests in conversation with Durham Business Club chair Graham Soult, the mayor described the North East as “the best place in the world” and highlighted the potential for tourism to drive economic growth.

She said: “I want to see more tourists come to the region.

“I think the North East is the best place in the world.

“Why wouldn't you want to come and spend a night or two here, go to some of the amazing bars and restaurants and enjoy the cultural scene?

“We are going to be proactively marketing the region significantly, more than we have been before.”

She added: “I know when it comes to the difficulty in hospitality, we go back to the cost of living, a lot of people are foregoing a night out here and there.

“We need to be able to support people, tackle that cost of living people are facing and that's the challenge for the Government at the moment.

“At the same time we want to attract tourists and try to support the hospitality sector.”

The discussion also covered wider regional priorities including reducing child poverty, improving transport connectivity and supporting green energy development.

Mayor McGuinness added: “In March, we signed off nearly half a billion pounds worth of funding into the region. 

“Everything from transport infrastructure to business investment to two development zones.

“Child poverty was something I wanted to tackle, we allocated £30 million to tackling that and have 14 pilots across the region which are all about helping people access benefits and free school uniforms as well as breaking down barriers between poverty and opportunity.

“In terms of transport funding, there has been £1.6 billion worth into the region which is enabling us to extend the Metro into Washington and as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail we will deliver the Leamside Line in full.

“We have now had, through the Crown Estate, an offshore wind ground unlocked, which is going to create 25,000 jobs over the next decade.

“That's enough power from the coast to power half the homes in England and Wales.”

During the event, the mayor reflected on the political challenges facing Labour following recent “catastrophic” local election losses across parts of the North East, including Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Mayor McGuinness added: “The election results were catastrophic for Labour, nobody is going to say otherwise.

“It was very clearly brought upon by the national picture and not by what was going on locally.

“That's not how it should be but that's how, unfortunately, it has turned out.

“People expressed that they didn't feel like they were understood by this Government. 

“They don't feel listened to.

“I knocked on door, after door, after door, and the thing that came up over and over again was the cost of living.

“People don't feel like enough action is being taken.”

When asked about a previous comment she made about Prime Minister Keir Starmer being on “borrowed time”, the mayor added: “That is going to become shorter and shorter and if the Prime Minister doesn’t act shortly, it won't be his decision, they will take it out of his hands.

“We are in, I would say, a crisis at the moment.”

The evening also marked the 45th anniversary of Durham Business Club, with members unveiling a new gold logo to celebrate the milestone.

Train operator Lumo, an active member of the club, joined the celebrations, with communications and partnerships director Richard Salkeld helping cut a ceremonial anniversary cake.

Alison Gittins, chief executive of Durham Business Club, added: “One year on from first welcoming Kim McGuinness to Durham Business Club, the event was a valuable opportunity for the North East business community to hear directly from the mayor about the progress made so far, the challenges still to overcome and the ambitions shaping the region’s future.

“At Durham Business Club, we are passionate about creating meaningful conversations that connect business leaders with the people driving change across the North East so it was wonderful to see so many businesses represented from across the region join our latest event.”

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