Newcastle Airport launches new inbound tourism website

Newcastle International has launched a new inbound tourism website for the North East – which aims to increase the number of visitors to the region.

As part of an innovative strategy, which has been a year in the making, the website will target thousands of extra tourists from across Europe and beyond – with the aim of boosting the regional economy.

The ground-breaking project will showcase all of the North East’s best destinations and attractions through the newly-developed platform and a range of high-quality digital marketing activities.

Over the past few months, the airport team has worked closely with the region’s tourism partners, including NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit County Durham, Northumberland Tourism, North and South Tyneside Councils, Tees Valley Combined Authority and Sunderland City Council.

The website, which is branded Visit North East England, will be the only region-wide tourism website that encompasses all of the local authority areas.

The website features a detailed page for each area of the region, and follows the themes of ‘uncover’, ‘explore’ and ‘experience’. It is packed with high-quality videos, written content and photographs and will be translated into a number of different languages – beginning with Chinese Simplified, Spanish, French, German and Dutch over the coming weeks.

Future developments under consideration are bookable product for many of the local tourism attractions, as well as interactive mapping of the region.

Jen Rea, the airport’s newly appointed Inbound Tourism Manager, said: “I am very passionate about promoting the North East, as I strongly believe that the inbound tourism project will be of great benefit to the whole of our region.

“Being from Newcastle myself, I have first-hand experience of how exciting and charming the region is – so I know that it will appeal to a wide range of different tourist demographics.”

The airport’s Chief Executive, Nick Jones, added: “The tourism project is set to be hugely beneficial to the region by increasing the number of visitors coming to the North East through ‘Your Airport’.

“There has been nothing similar to this done by any other UK airport, and I am looking forward to seeing the region’s reaction to this exciting project.”

Councillor Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council and chairman of Newcastle International Airport, said: “One of the biggest opportunities for growth in the North East is tourism and we know that our culture and visitor attractions are defining attributes that make our region distinctive and special.

“Through strong partnership working and collaboration with regional and national partners, we now have our very own inbound tourism strategy that will continue to build the global profile of the North East.”

Hywel Rees, principal for asset management at AMP Capital, which owns Newcastle Airport alongside the Local Authority shareholders, said: “This is excellent news for Newcastle Airport and the wider region.

“This initiative will help drive tourism in the North East, strengthening Newcastle Airport and helping the North East to extend its global reach.”

For more information, visit www.visitnortheastengland.com.