The North East has been chosen to deliver the first-ever Destination Development Partnership pilot in England, receiving £2.25 million from national government.
Born out of the pilot, the partnership, named Destination North East England will operate across all seven local authorities, working parallel with the plans for the forthcoming North East Mayoral Combined Authority. The region will work together to improve skills, develop products, work with travel trade, drive innovation, support business events and improve the accessibility and sustainability of the sector.
England’s first pilot will be led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) on behalf of the region, working with delivery partners Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham and in partnership with all seven local authorities.
NGI, Visit County Durham, and Visit Northumberland were the first organisations to be recognised by VisitEngland in a new national portfolio of strategic tourism bodies called Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs).
A Destination Development Partnership pilot is led by a LVEP, on behalf of a wider region and other LVEPs to create a programme of activity funded by DCMS and managed by VisitEngland to deliver the government’s ambitions for the sector at a regional level.
The pilot will act as a potential blueprint for the rest of England and help shape the future landscape of tourism organisations, delivering local economic growth through the visitor economy.
It has been the catalyst for the development of a ten-year plan that will double the size of our visitor economy and position our region as a must-see destination, whilst attracting private investment and driving growth.
This is a regional collaboration and an incredible opportunity to grow the visitor economy in the North East of England, developing our regional eco-system and supporting industry.
Destination North East England operates across all seven local authorities.
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