Deutschland dreams - Durham wins slice of £1million marketing cash to attract more tourists from Germany

Durham is hoping for a German invasion.
Durham CathedralDurham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral

The city is one of several destinations to share a £1million investment from the Discover England Fund to encourage more German visitors to explore Eastern England.

The money will be spent on creating a new 300-mile touring route between London and Northumberland that combines well-known visitor locations with some that are more off-the beaten track.

Durham is hoping to attract more German visitorsDurham is hoping to attract more German visitors
Durham is hoping to attract more German visitors
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New itineraries will be developed that bring together attractions, accommodation options, places to eat and activities to create a route that is culturally rich and quintessentially English.

Michelle Gorman, managing director at Visit County Durham said: “Durham has so much for international visitors to experience and this project will help us to attract more people to visit and enjoy what we have to offer.

“We welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with colleagues and make it easier for people to plan and book a trip to Eastern England.

“In addition to showcasing the well-known visitor attractions of Durham City and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle, this investment will encourage German visitors to explore the county’s historic towns such as Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle and introduce them to world-class attractions including The Bowes Museum, the Auckland Project, Beamish Museum and Raby Castle.”

Durham is hoping to attract more German visitorsDurham is hoping to attract more German visitors
Durham is hoping to attract more German visitors
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The project is being led by destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) working with other destination organisations and local authorities up and down the country.

Germany has been chosen as the target market because touring is a familiar and well-loved holiday choice for Germans and because there is good connectivity with Eastern England.

The project has an emphasis on helping businesses to operate in the international market and help them to attract more independent travellers as well as tour operators and travel agents.

The East of England Touring Route is one of a number of successful projects to receive funding from the UK Government’s £40million Discover England Fund, which aims to ensure the country England remains competitive in the rapidly growing global tourism industry.