The North East has been selected for a major tourism project.
In an official statement published by Gov.uk, North East England will pilot a new £2.25 million scheme to restructure tourism boards.
The project aims to attract more investment, welcome more sporting, business and cultural events, support business growth, create new jobs, and boost domestic and international tourist numbers.
Through the project, the government will be streamlining Tourism Boards or Destination Management Organisations DMOs by accrediting the top-performing organisations – so they can grow the visitor economy and attract major business, cultural and sporting events.
Plans to overhaul the current system were set out earlier this year.
This includes the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, which has been selected to lead a pilot in partnership with Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham across seven local authority areas.
The partnership will receive £2.25 million to help successfully develop and market the region as a must-visit destination while attracting further private investment and driving growth.
The partnership aims to extend the tourism season and attract more visitors from across the UK and abroad through various initiatives.
This includes the creation of Tour de Yorkshire, following the Tour de France stage in Yorkshire back in 2015, or the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.
Partnerships will also allow tourism boards to attract new hotels and develop major attractions such as the Eden Project in Cornwall.
They can also build on local heritage and cultural assets through the likes of UNESCO World Heritage bids, grow the food and drink offer and maximise the potential of the region’s natural assets.
Tourism Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“From Hadrian’s Wall to Durham Cathedral and the bright lights of Newcastle, the North East has much to offer tourists from around the world, but we want to go further and attract even more visitors.
“We are looking at what more we can do to streamline the way the region’s tourism bodies work together, improve the region’s offer and the way it markets itself.
“With £2.25 million in funding, we hope the North East can be a pioneer for other areas in unlocking its potential and putting its best foot forward.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:
“Congratulations to the North East on being announced as the pilot region for the Destination Development Partnership (DDP).
“The UK Government’s decision to proceed with a pilot approach is a valuable opportunity to prove the DDP concept, demonstrating the benefits that these reforms will have if rolled out nationwide.
“We will also be able to really measure an element of funding at a regional level to develop tourism and what impact that will have, strengthening the case for future funding.
“We look forward to working with NewcastleGateshead Initiative and Northumberland and Durham tourism boards to develop the DDP pilot, ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place to enable England to continue to be a compelling destination for domestic and international visitors.”
Sarah Green, CEO, NewcastleGateshead Initiative said:
“This pilot is an incredible opportunity to unlock our growth potential in the North East, attracting more visitors, reaching new international markets, creating jobs, growing businesses, attracting investment, and reinforcing local pride in our place.
“As the first Destination Development Partnership, we will work with our partners in Visit County Durham and Visit Northumberland to ensure the tourism sector is supported and grows across all seven local authorities in the region.
“Our region will act as a blueprint for the rest of England, and we could not be prouder to help shape the future landscape of destination management organisations, working in partnership to deliver local economic growth through the visitor economy.”
Evidence will be collected throughout the pilot to understand how effective the proposed model is and to support any future funding considerations.
If the pilot is successful, the government will look to roll the partnership model out to other regions across England.
Click here for more exciting travel daily news and travel industry news updates related to the UK trade and travel industry, published daily on Travel Pursuit UK!
