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The creation of Experience North East England (ENEE) is an important milestone for tourism across our region. It signals a shared ambition to raise the profile of North East England, attract more visitors and grow the value of our visitor economy. It provides an opportunity to build on the distinct strengths of our destinations and places, ensuring tourism continues to drive sustainable economic growth, create and support jobs, and bring lasting benefits to communities across the North East.  

I warmly welcome the establishment of ENEE and the commitment from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA) to invest in and champion our visitor economy. Tourism is one of the North East's greatest strengths, and by working together we have an opportunity to amplify our collective voice and compete more effectively in key areas. 

While the regional landscape is evolving, one thing remains unchanged: successful tourism starts with strong destinations. 

That's why the role of Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) has never been more important. 

As the accredited LVEP for County Durham, Visit County Durham has held a strategic role, shaping and supporting the visitor economy, for two decades. Effective partnership working has always been at the heart of what we do, be that regionally, nationally or internationally, and we welcome the opportunity to join forces on shared objectives to realise the full potential of the region. 

From tourism businesses and landscape managers to destinations across the country and beyond, Visit County Durham excels at identifying, and developing strategic partnerships  to drive forward the county’s visitor economy. This approach has  been key to our successful product development, business support and marketing campaigns, which has helped achieve a visitor economy contributing almost £1.5bn to the local economy, achieving record-breaking results for the third year in a row, and the highest visitor numbers in the North East. 

LVEPs bring an in-depth understanding of the  disitinctive strengths, opportunities andchallenges of their destinations. We are the organisations that  translate national and regional strategy into action and effective local delivery, ensuring wider ambitions result in meaningful outcomes for our places, businesses and communities.   The knowledge,  expertise and relationships, held  within our professional team,twill be vital in ensuring that regional activity benefits the county as fully as possible. 

County Durham will have a strong voice within the new regional landscape. We will continue working in close partnership with ENEE and the region’s other LVEPs and tourism bodies,  supporting delivery of regional activity that complements and supports our own strategic priorities and ambitions. 

This collaborative approach will be particularly important as we seek to grow inbound tourism. The Government has identified international tourism as a key driver of economic growth, creating significant opportunities for destinations across England. North East England has a compelling story to tell, supported by world-class heritage, spectacular landscapes, vibrant culture and increasingly strong transport links, including Newcastle International Airport, the Port of Tyne, East Coast Main Line and excellent road connections. 

Visit County Durham will play an active role in supporting  regional ambitions, helping to deliver  strategic priorities while ensuring County Durham's distinctive offer remains at the forefront.  

International marketing and travel trade engagement, attracting major events, increasing business tourism and showcasing the breadth of the region’s visitor offer are all areas where scale, reach and a unified regional proposition can add real value. These are precisely the opportunities where ENEE has the potential to make a significant impact, complementing and amplifying the work of individual destinations.We know from experience the wider value that partnerships can bring. Over the years, we've  collaborated with destinations from across England and the UK to reach new audiences, secure greater investment and create opportunities that would not have been possible by working alone.  - From our work with England's Historic Cities, showcasing some of the nation's  premier heritage destinations, to collaborative projects with Tees Valley Combined Authority and our involvement in the National Coastal Tourism Academy Discover England's Coast initiative.  

Experience North East England will be an important partner within the region’s visitor economy ecosystem, bringing added scale, reach and influence in those areas where working regionally can achieve more. By combining this regional strength with the destination knowledge, relationships and delivery expertise of Visit County Durham and our fellow LVEPs, we can ensure that regional ambition translates into meaningful benefits for our individual places. 

Working together, we can strengthen North East England's profile and reputation, reach new audiences, attract more visitors, unlock new investment and create greater opportunities for businesses and communities – while  ensuring County Durham continues to flourish as one of England's leading destinations.