European and UK-based tour operators, travel agents and coach tour organisers will be descending on the North East this month as part of a drive to increase overseas visitors to the region.
The region will be hosting two key travel trade events over the weekend of January 26th-30th supporting tourism businesses in the region to establish links with tour operators looking to bring groups and visitors to the destination.
More than 100 coach operators and agents will be attending the Coach Tourism Association annual conference being held at the Hilton Gateshead. As part of the event agents will also be given the chance of exploring what the region has to offer on a series of familiarisation trips.
There will also be a showcase and networking allowing hotels, visitor attractions and hospitality businesses the chance to generate new business opportunities.
Over the same weekend buyers from Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium will be in the region as part of VisitBritain’s flagship “Showcase Britain 2024” event. They will be taken on a series of educational visits of key products and experiences in the region. There will also be a networking event to once again give tourism and hospitality businesses the chance to forge relationships with these key contacts.
Both events are being supported as part of Destination North East England (DNEE). DNEE is being led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of the region, working with delivery partners Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham and in partnership with all seven local authorities.
One of the key objectives of the pilot is to develop a Travel Trade strategy for the North East to support businesses in expanding their customer base; creating innovative products and attracting new and different audiences, making them more profitable and resilient.
Alex MacKenzie, Travel Trade Manager for NGI. On behalf of Destination North East England said: “This is an exciting time for the region. Working with international and domestic travel trade will bring so many new opportunities to the region and will help us achieve our target of doubling the value of the visitor economy in the next decade.”
“We are looking forward to sharing with these top buyers some of the reasons why the North East needs to be on their radar for future travel plans and packages, as well as working with them to bring new business to the area.
“We will also be working with tourism and hospitality businesses through workshops and business support initiatives to ensure we are able to provide the services needed by the travel trade.”
VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said:
“We are delighted to be showcasing Britain’s outstanding destinations, tourism products and experiences to international buyers, highlighting the very best of our nations and regions to broaden travel itineraries and drive bookings. From the beauty of our coast and countryside, the vibrancy of our cities and cultural attractions to our world-class dining and accommodation, buyers will experience first-hand the quality of our tourism offer alongside the warmest of British welcomes.
“I know that the international buyers will return home in no doubt about the outstanding quality of tourism products and experiences available right across Britain.”