Durham City has changed significantly over the past 20 years, developing a much broader offer than simply being a historic city with an incredible Cathedral and University. Today, we have a strong and growing hospitality and leisure sector, fantastic independent businesses, major events and an increasingly important visitor economy. 

Over the last five and a half years, I’ve seen businesses face some extraordinary challenges, from the pandemic and cost-of-living pressures to rapidly changing consumer behaviour. What has impressed me most is the resilience and adaptability of the business community and the willingness of organisations across Durham to work together to support it. 

There is also a growing confidence in Durham as a place to invest, work and do business. We have some extraordinary assets, a beautiful, internationally recognised city, a world-class university, an incredible heritage offer and a significant visitor economy. But increasingly, the conversation is about what else Durham can become and how we can build on those strengths. 

There are still challenges, particularly around attracting investment and ensuring the city centre remains competitive, but there is a real ambition among partners to build on what makes Durham special rather than simply rely on it. 

The visitor economy is fundamental to Durham City. Visitors support far more than our traditional attractions; they spend in our restaurants, cafés, pubs, shops and hotels, helping to support businesses and employment throughout the city centre. 

One of our priorities at Durham BID is encouraging people not just to visit Durham, but to stay longer, explore more of the city and spend with local businesses. Events, experiences and effective destination marketing all have an important role to play in that. A successful visitor destination and a successful city centre very often go hand in hand. 

Visit County Durham has been an important partner during my time in Durham. One of its greatest strengths is its ability to bring people and organisations together. None of us can promote Durham effectively in isolation, the strongest results come when the city, wider county, businesses, attractions and partner organisations work collectively. 

Visit County Durham provides that wider destination voice and helps ensure Durham is visible to audiences far beyond the city and county. That ultimately translates into visitors, overnight stays and spending within our businesses. 

Rather than one particular campaign standing out, for me it is the consistent work to raise Durham’s profile as a destination and the partnership approach behind it that has made the biggest impact. 

Durham has some incredible individual assets, but the real opportunity is in bringing those together and telling a compelling story about the whole destination. Promoting the city alongside the wider county, its attractions, events, culture, heritage, food and landscapes has helped create a much stronger overall proposition. 

Visit County Durham has achieved a great deal over the past 20 years, and as we look to the future, that collaborative approach will be increasingly important as we continue to grow Durham’s visitor economy. 

I think Visit County Durham is collaborative, passionate and ambitious. 

Paul Howard, Manager, Durham BID