Visit County Durham News

£2.25 million boost for the region’s tourism industry as North East announced as the first ever Destination Development Partnership pilot in England

Publication Date: 25th Nov 2022

The North East has been chosen for the first regional tourism pilot receiving £2.25 million from national government covering a period to March 2025.  ‘The partnership will see Visit County Durham working alongside NewcastleGateshead Initiative and VisitNorthumberland, on behalf of the whole region. 

This is a regional collaboration and incredible opportunity to unlock our growth and the untapped potential in the North East of England, attracting more visitors, creating new experiences, targeting new markets as well as creating jobs and opportunity.

The region will act as blueprint for the rest of England, and we will help shape the future landscape of destination management organisations, delivering local economic growth through the visitor economy across all seven local authorities.

County Durham welcomes the announcement

Ivor Stolliday, Chair of Visit County Durham Limited:
“We are delighted the North East has been selected to pilot this innovative new approach to developing destinations. Our region is vast and varied, with spectacular countryside and coastline, award-winning attractions, rich heritage, vibrant cities and world-class festivals and events. We also have huge untapped potential and the capacity for further sustainable growth. At Visit County Durham, partnership is at the heart of what we do, and we relish this opportunity to work with partners across the region to achieve our bold ambitions together.”

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council Cabinet member for economy and partnerships:
“We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to pilot a new partnership approach for the North East. The visitor economy is key, and by working together we can maximise its potential; attracting new investment, developing skills and jobs, and highlighting the visitor offer on a national stage.

“The scheme will help showcase the vast and dynamic cultural offer we have in County Durham as the culture county, attracting more visitors and further raising our profile on an international level. It will also connect the county to the wider region, providing a boost to the visitor economy and creating further opportunities for inward investment.”

Read the press release in full.