http://www.destination.uk.com/ Destination UK is the leading magazine for promoting the UK's travel and tourism industry to travel trade professionals in Britain and abroad. en-uk Copyright Wharncliffe Publishing Limited 2008 2008-11-04 08:58:20 2008-11-04 08:58:20 http://www.destination.uk.com/ http://www.destination.uk.com/images/rsslogo.gif http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-11 WINDERMERE-based Mountain Goat Tours has appointed the Lake District's first Japanese touring guide. Junko Ishiwata from Sendai City in northern Japan has been drafted in to help introduce Japanese Beatrix Potter fans to Cumbria and Peter Rabbit country, on board Mountain Goat's luxury mini-coaches. The Miss Potter film, starring Renee Zellweger, was only released in Japan towards the end of last year, so Mountain Goat is continuing to develop the service it offers to Japanese visitors. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-11-04 08:58:20 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-11 THE UK travel industry will be facing a lack of government support as well as challenging market conditions in the year ahead, according to VisitBritain. The national tourism agency has published its annual review, revealing a fall in international visitor numbers of 150,000 to 32.6m. Christopher Rodrigues, VisitBritain chairman, said: 'We were extremely disappointed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's decision at the end of 2007 to reduce our three year funding by over 20 per cent just at the time the industry faces increased competitive and economic challenges. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-11-04 08:57:47 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-10 THE Scottish tourism industry faces a 'significant challenge' to achieve its target of 50 per cent growth by 2015, it has been claimed. In a report to the Scottish Parliament by the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, members blame economic circumstances and lack of awareness amongst the industry for making it hard to realise the ambition. The report was the result of an inquiry into the feasibility of meeting the Scottish Government's ambition for a 50 per cent increase in revenue from tourism by 2015. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-10-01 15:34:09 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-10 VISITSCOTLAND is aiming to attract more visitors from Russia by launching its first-ever Russian language website. The website, www.conventionscotland.com/ru, has been developed by the business tourism unit to attract more Russian business tourists to Scotland. The website offers Russian meeting and event organisers everything they need to know about business tourism possibilities in Scotland. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-10-01 15:33:50 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-09 BRIDLINGTON hoteliers have blasted claims that the credit crunch will result in a boom in domestic tourism. The East Yorkshire town of Bridlington has traditionally been a tourism hotspot, but Glenn Holmes, president of the town's hotel and guest house association, said there are still plenty of spare beds this year. He told Destination UK: 'It's been a very slow start to the season. There are reports everywhere that the downturn in the economy will mean more people taking their holidays in the UK, but we've seen no evidence of that here. I believe a lot of it is just media hype.' Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-09-10 17:00:20 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-09 HALF of those going on holiday this summer will be staying in the UK, it has been claimed. Research by LateRooms.com shows that rising living costs and the ongoing effects of the credit crunch have influenced 51 per cent of holiday-goers to stay in the UK this summer. The survey also revealed that 75 per cent of Brits say nostalgia is their main reason for visiting UK beaches, and say they try to return to the places they were taken to as children. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-09-10 16:59:50 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-08 HOTEL numbers in the heart of NewcastleGateshead have soared almost 70 per cent in the past five years and rooms exceed 5,000 for the first time, according to a new survey.  Since 2002 hotel bed space across NewcastleGateshead has grown by 42.6 per cent with the addition of 12 new hotels and serviced apartments.  An increase of almost 67 per cent has been seen specifically in the heart of the city centre, according to the survey commissioned by Tourism Tyne and Wear. It is believed that this demand for hotel rooms is due to mid-week business visitors and city break visitors. The rapid growth of Newcastle International airport has also been a factor. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-08-05 10:18:05 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-08 IT'S FULL steam ahead for one of Nottinghamshire's most historic monuments as £1.1m of extra funding is set to give it a new lease of life as a tourism hotspot. Bestwood Winding Engine House, one of the last remaining monuments to the area's coal mining history, is to be restored thanks to a £963,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) £295,000 from the Greater Nottinghamshire Partnership and additional funding from the County Council. The cash injection means the imposing Victorian building, England's only remaining in situ vertical mounted winding engine, will be rescued and restored and opened to the public all year round for the first time. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-08-05 10:17:39 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-07 By Nicola Hyde OVERSEAS tourists have rated Glasgow's friendly people as the most enjoyable aspect of their trip to the city. The 2007 Glasgow Visitor Survey also found that 91 per cent of domestic and foreign visitors had been to at least one attraction, with 71 per cent of those having visited a museum and 61 per cent visiting an art gallery. Spokesman Lynn Jones said: 'The results of this study are a huge pat on the back to the people of Glasgow, particularly those who come into contact with overseas tourists. Their friendly attitude is encouraging visitors to make the most of their time in the city, and, in the case of a large majority, come back for another visit." Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-07-01 14:06:28 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-07 TOURISM businesses in the Isle of Wight fear their profits could be slashed by almost £50m this year - and the council has been blamed for the shortfall. Isle of Wight's Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry claim the predicted revenue plummet lies on the shoulders of the council for doing little to promote the island. Chamber chief executive Kevin Smith said: 'The industry across all sectors is experiencing a slow start; most other areas are flat or slightly below average. But our visitor attractions are tell-ing us that they are 40 per cent down. There should not really be disparity between us and other areas.' Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-07-01 14:05:19 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-06 VISITBRITAIN have released the initial results of their UK Tourism Survey, revealing the full year domestic tourism data for 2007. It has revealed that the number of overnight trips made in the UK fell by two per cent during the year, with revenue from these stays rising only one per cent to £21.2bn. However, results were more positive from a tourism perspective, as holiday trips reversed their decline, growing by one per cent in volume and five per cent in value. The report suggested that the overall decline was probably more related to economic factors rather than UK tourism performance and blamed falls in business and value for revenue. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-06-03 09:24:04 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-06 FUNDING for a new tourist attraction in Greenwich has been given a boost with a grant of £1.9m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Discover Greenwich - a new interpretation and education centre for the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site - will cost £5.7 million and is expected to open early 2009. Chief executive of the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College Duncan Wilson said: 'The Foundation is delighted that the HLF is backing this project which is an important landmark in the interpretation for the whole Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and will inspire local people and visitors to Greenwich  'It gives us the opportunity to tell the history of these wonderful buildings through the stories of the people who made them, and whose lives are bound up in them.'  Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-06-03 09:23:14 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-05 ONE of Britain's biggest archaeological finds is being exhibited in Norfolk - ten years after it was found on the county's coast. The attraction, a 4,000 year old upturned oak stump and 55 timbers, with tool marks on them holding valuable information on Early Bronze Age wood-working and construction methods - had been preserved in peat and has been declared to be of international importance. The historic landmark gained the name 'Seahenge' after tree ring dating revealed that they were cut down during the spring or early summer of 2049 BC, around the time Stonehenge was formed. Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service have now completed the redevelopment of the Lynn Museum, in the heart of King's Lynn, and have created a gallery dedicated to telling the history of Seahenge. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-05-02 09:47:52 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-05 THE winners of Britain's tourism 'oscars' have been unveiled at an awards ceremony in Liverpool. The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence winners include a sixteenth century restaurant with rooms in Devon, Europe's largest free airshow in Sunderland, an environmentally sustainable villa and restaurant in Norfolk and a children's attraction and story centre in Buckingham- shire. Hugh Taylor, VisitEngland chairman said: 'The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence highlight the rising quality and diversity of holiday experiences on offer in England. From foodie gems and unique attractions to magnificent hotels and sustainable B&B's, England is an exciting world-class tourism destination, in which to discover something new. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-05-02 09:47:26 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-04 By Nicola Hyde TOURISM locations across the UK are missing out on the cash allocated to them because of problems in the way it is distributed, an MP has claimed. Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative shadow minister for tourism, spoke at BTTF and claimed that the current structure where money is filtered through regional development agencies is not working. He said: 'We are very very concerned about how money is being used in many RDAs across the country. There is a real question about whether they are delivering value for money or are interfering with money getting to the front line. We question whether the money gets syphoned off. 'There are some good examples where RDAs have worked to immediately push the money out but in other cases that's not the way.' He said the way money is distributed is too complicated and that the party is now conducting its own tourism review. He added: 'We are losing out to our competitors and we need to up our game. That requires stronger leadership, a better structure. The start would be to have a tourism minister that does nothing more than look after tourism and fight off the red tape from all the other departments.' Don Foster, Lib Dem shadow secretary for culture, added: 'The biggest problem is there is no democratic accountability. Local government and the regional RDAs for the South West should have been able to sort out the different problems around Stone Henge but there is a lack of joined up thinking in regards to tourism. If we are going to have RDAs then it has to be crystal clear about what the role of each of these should be.' Tourism minister Margaret Hodge was at the centre of the Tourism Society Question Time debate, insisting that the purpose of the ongoing tourism review was to make the best of government money. She said: 'I completely disagree on the value of worth of RDAs. There is a real role for them to promote tourism.' Tom Wright, CEO of VisitBritan, added: 'I think we need to have an efficient structure. There is a great enthusiasm to come up with a better framework that works for destinations and we are optimistic that we will find an improved framework that is more efficient and more effective.' Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-04-01 10:17:18 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-03 THE HISTORIC trams in Blackpool will be refurbished as part of an £85.3 million scheme to attract more visitors to the area. Plans to move forward with the refurbishment of the historic Blackpool and Fleetwood tram system were announced by transport minister Tom Harris, with the Government contributing £60.3m to the scheme. Improvements will include refurbishment of the track and tram stops out to Fleetwood, as well as 16 new fully accessible trams to serve Blackpool's seafront promenade. Rail minister Tom Harris said: "At over 120 years old, the Blackpool and Fleetwood tramway is part of the local heritage as well as an important part of the local transport system. "I want to make sure that tourists and local people alike can continue to enjoy the tram in years to come and make sure it lies at the heart of the town's current regeneration plans." The Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway carries nearly four million passenger trips a year, around 75 per cent of which are visitors to Blackpool. Coun Peter Callow, leader of Blackpool Council said: 'It is also a real vote of confidence in Blackpool's future as a successful resort. 'I am sure that it will encourage much needed private investment in the town.' The full refurbishment is expected to start in late 2009. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-03-03 10:46:06 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 GOVERNMENT should do more to tackle deprivation in seaside towns, spend more on marketing and pay for buildings to be regenerated, according to experts. The English Heritage study says there should be more investment to preserve historic seaside towns where assets like hotels, fishermen’s huts and harbours could be used as a catalyst for successful regeneration. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: “From fishing alleys to Victorian boulevards, from old docks and harbours to historic spas, we have lots of evidence to show that people and businesses flourish in places where local character and distinctiveness are being revived, often through physical renewal and reuse of historic buildings. It is clear that seaside towns need to adapt and evolve.” The report also points out that high maintenance cost is among the many factors hindering physical renewal of historic architecture and threatening its survival. New developments within historic coastal settings are also often a difficult issue. Many coastal towns contain some of Britain’s finest pieces of Georgian, Victorian and inter-war architecture and examples of planned townscapes. Local authorities have to make difficult judgments about developments and infrastructure projects which can bring economic benefits but may compromise the townscape or local distinctiveness and character. The report adds: “Long-term decline in some areas has also created negative images of many coastal towns. These can be deeply entrenched in the public’s perception and challenging to reverse. Poor upkeep can leave the built heritage unappreciated by visitors, undervalued by investors and potentially seen as a burden by local authorities.” n What do you think? Write to Nicola Hyde at 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS or email nl@whpl.net. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:36:08 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 By Phil Davies THE creation of VisitEngland is a move towards resolving one of the most significant problems facing the domestic tourism industry, according to experts. The Tourism Alliance says the new initiative is needed to help with the co-ordinated development and promotion of England as a major domestic and international tourism destination. Tourism Alliance board members Ros Pritchard and Bob Cotton will be observers on the VisitEngland board, giving a direct link from industry. Pritchard, chairman of the Alliance, said: “The VisitEngland board has been given a clear and strong mandate to ensure the alignment of England marketing with regional and local marketing objectives and to oversee the Enjoy England marketing strategy. “This means that the industry will regain the co-ordination required to ensure that it is competitive in the international market.” The Tourism Alliance claims that the devolution of responsibility for tourism to regional development agencies, while helping regional investment and development, has “reduced cohesion” between the various bodies and led to “less co-ordinated” promotion of England as a destination. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:36:02 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 REGIONAL air links to Heathrow could be threatened by “inflation-busting” hikes in fees paid by airlines. The warning came from Bmi, the second largest user of the airport, which reacted angrily to Competition Commission recommendations for higher than expected charges at Heathrow from next April. The fees per departing passenger at Heathrow in 2007/08 is £18.55 but will almost double to £35.28 in 2012 under the CC recommendations, the airline calculated. The suggested hike in charges every year over five years “threatens to put under further scrutiny the existence and viability of vital UK regional air links into Heathrow and has the potential of pricing them out of the market,” Bmi warned. The Competition Commission’s recommended rise in charges is more than those considered by regulator the Civil Aviation Authority but is not binding. Bmi deputy chief executive Tim Bye said: “We warned the CC that sanctioning inflation-busting price rises at Heathrow could have a devastating effect on vital regional services into Heathrow. “The availability of routes from key UK regions to feed into a wide range of destinations through the world’s busiest international airport sustains the lifeblood and the economic growth of many of these regions. At a time when competition between airlines has demanded that they drive down their costs and generate higher levels of efficiency to survive, we have had to endure inflation-busting increases for the last five years for indifferent levels of service. “We are now facing even higher increases over the next five years with limited improvements until the opening of the new Heathrow East terminal in 2012.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:35:58 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 Exclusive by Nicola Hyde HISTORICAL artefacts are being damaged because too many tourists are going to museums as part of a controversial free entry scheme. The government’s aim to promote more culture and heritage led to entry fees being scrapped in museums and art galleries across the UK – but industry experts say it is doing more harm than good. Sean Gaffaney, of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, said since the government introduced the scheme visitor numbers had rocketed from 300,000 a year – to over 500,000. He said: “We are now up to 500,000 visitors without any corresponding increase in revenue funding to do extra repair works or pay for staff. “The Natural History Museum is packed every day and it’s nightmarish really because the facilities are not designed for so many people a year to go through them. “We are just a science centre but bigger museums are struggling with this. “They are getting two to three million visitors a year which is an enormous strain on resources. “There is a vast disparity between what the government gives per visitor and what is actually needed. I fear it is one of those decisions that they just will not go back on.” Colin Dawson, spokesman for the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, added: “We have heard that revenue generation is far more difficult. Spending is down and its creating another problem because footfall is creating resource problems in upkeep and damage. “Artefacts are getting damaged because of the increased numbers and places are finding it hard to keep up with that.” What do you think? Write to Nicola Hyde, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS or email nl@whpl.net. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:35:53 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 THE 2012 Olympic games are set to boost London and Britain’s position in the changing world of global tourism. VisitLondon and VisitBritain have published new research which found that the games could bring about a steep change in the country’s success in attracting visitors from emerging tourist markets such as India, China and Russia. The research, commissioned from Oxford Economics, concludes that the total potential tourism benefits expected from the Games range could be as high as £2.2 billion for London and £2.9 billion for the UK as a whole, depending on the right strategies and investments. VisitLondon’s CEO, James Bidwell, said: “London is already the number one city destination in the world and drives the UK economy. “Whilst two thirds of the benefits of the 2012 Games will remain within the capital, this research highlights the crucial role London plays as the gateway to Britain, with almost one third of the benefits of the Games to flow to the rest of the UK.” The research also supports new findings from the Anholt-GMI Brand Index, which shows that potential visitors from emerging markets such as India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico are more likely than more established UK visitor markets to say the London Games would motivate them to visit. Tom Wright, VisitBritain’s CEO, said: “The 2012 Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase Britain to the emerging giants of tourism and ensure that we remain globally competitive for the next decade and beyond. “The greatest growth is forecast to come from countries that are least familiar with Britain. “To create the biggest audience possible around the Games, we must continue to invest in our network overseas and extend our footprint in emerging markets across China, India, Malaysia and the Philippines. “The research gives cause for optimism, but delivering these benefits will involve insightful planning and strategy, investment and commitment from the private and public sector.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:54:48 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 The washout summer did not deter holidaymakers flocking to Blackpool in August, latest figures suggest. The UK’s leading seaside resort saw a 67 per cent rise in hotel bookings during the peak summer month despite the bad weather, according to online accommodation provider LateRooms.com. The late availability hotel specialist took more than 5,000 bookings in this period, up by 2,000 on July. Within the same period last year, only 1,244 bookings were made – despite the heat wave, the company said. The figures prove that not everyone has been put off by the bad weather this summer and the late surge in demand also consolidated Blackpool’s position as a major UK attraction, according to LateRooms.com. This reverses a trend seen by many seaside resorts in the rain-drenched, with the poor weather conditions resulting in fewer visitors than usual. Tony Walsh, development director at LateRooms.com, said: “Despite the washout, we have had some good weekends this summer. “People no longer book their holidays months in advance. Now, our breaks can be arranged based on the weather forecast – so there are no unpleasant surprises.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:53:44 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 POOLE has celebrated its annual tourism awards ceremony, The Palms, for the fifth time. Over 90 key tourism and business figures gathered at the Harbour Heights restaurant to celebrate the high standard of tourism operators and businesses in the town. Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of the Poole Tourism Management Board, said: “Poole businesses are leading the way and setting even higher standards which exceed customers expectations year on year.” The Les Bouviers Restaurant with rooms was named Development of the Year for providing Poole’s only five star guest graded accommodation and the growth of Poole Park Fest from a small community event to 25,000 spectators this year earned Promotion of the Year. Tourism personality of the Year was awarded to John Corderoy, owner and managing director of Tower Park based Breeze Volkswagen, for his personal support and sponsorship of tourism events. A special judges award was also presented to The Lost Quay street theatre by Fladermouse Productions, which brought Poole’s rich history to life with stories about the infamous pirate Harry Paye. Jonathan Sibbett, director at Sibbett Gregory, said: “We are proud to sponsor this event as Poole has an excellent tourism product which serves to make the town attractive not just to visitors and residents but to people wanting to invest and grow in this vibrant town. “The Palms is a fantastic way to reward those businesses and individuals who have invested both their enthusiasm and commitment to play their full part in Poole’s reputation for excellence.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:52:03 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 A NEW scheme has been launched to promote fine dining on the Highlands and Islands. Customers will be able to sample menus at a fraction of the usual cost at 36 of the region’s top restaurants through the Dine Around Highlands 2007 scheme. Running until the end of November, the initiative guarantees customers a choice of gourmet meals at fixed prices of £15 or £25. Jim and Mary Cowie of the award-winning Captain’s Galley in Scrabster said: “VisitScotland’s Dine Around Highlands promotion is a superb way to encourage more people, both locals and tourists, to try out some of the best food in the country at some of the Highlands’ top restaurants.  “We’re fortunate to have access to so many local suppliers who source the highest quality, fresh seasonal produce giving us fantastic ingredients to create a real taste of the Highlands for our diners. “We hope to welcome many more people through our doors so we can impress them with the superb quality and range of our food”. The Dine Around concept was developed originally by VisitScotland for the competitive Glasgow and Edinburgh food scenes, and was successfully introduced in the Highlands and Islands last year.   The promotion provides added value for customers and generates additional business at a comparatively quiet time for restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Scott Armstrong, Area Director at VisitScotland Highlands said: “The Highlands is increasingly becoming known as a destination chosen for the quality of its food and produce as much as it scenery.  “Dine Around Highlands gives everyone a chance to sample the very best of Highland produce and Highland cuisine at a very attractive price.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:50:24 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 MORE regional theatres should be set up to showcase new work before it appears in the West End. This is the view of Arts Council England which is calling for the development of new musicals to be more structured to increase their chances of a successful transition to the West End stage. It is concerned over the number of American musicals currently dominating London theatres and has begun a consultation process to discover how to support home grown talent. Head of theatre Emma Stenning said: “It’s apparent there is a lot of talent in England but not enough structure to support it. “Although it’s unlikely any initiative coming out of the consultation will include large-scale funding, we do hope to identify how to best use our resources to address the needs of the sector. “What the industry needs is more regional venues that can premiere new work. At present, there is nothing between the seed commission of a show and a West End run. We need a better development system to allow musicals such as Jerry Springer the Opera to progress out of fringe theatre.” However Emma also said there have been success stories such as Bad Girls, by the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Moon Landing, produced by Derby Playhouse which have both transferred to the West End. She added: “In certain areas there is some brilliant work taking place. We need to better capitalise on these individual efforts and build a strong network of development across the country. “There is a large pool of talent in the UK and what we would like to look at is how best to make sure there are pathways and networks that allow for musical theatre to make it out of the fringe.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 09:17:40 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 A UK holiday company is celebrating a record-breaking year after it brought in 30,000 visitors for group tours, Destination UK can reveal. Group UK - a division of The UK Holiday Group - says sales from the last year are up almost 40 per cent thanks to its widest ever range of tours. Sales director Harold Burke said: “It has been a phenomenal year for our groups business for several reasons – we have arranged more tours to offer travel agents who organise group trips, and we have been able to run some attractive ‘direct by coach’ promotions with travel agencies such as Travelcare and Allen Sturges Travel which has also helped to boost their coaching business significantly. “We have seen more passengers than ever before booking products such as Warner Breaks with us, and we have also had record numbers going to Ireland. “Other holidays seeing soaraway success this summer have been our trips to Egypt and river cruises.” Group UK arranges tailor-made tours for clubs and organisations from all across the UK and also incoming from overseas to a worldwide list of destinations. Sister brand Grand UK Hotels - which has 10 properties in scenic touring locations around the UK – helps it to offer packages for groups and trade partners. Harold said: “The themed breaks at our hotels have been particularly popular this year, and our group business from coach operators and the trade is up by more than 18 per cent into Grand UK Hotels. “The themes include the Welsh Experience at Glen Usk Hotel in Llandrindod Wells which features a performance by a male voice choir as one of the highlights.” Numbers for groups have also been also boosted by more bookings for conferences and special events for organisations with more than 500 members. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:58:47 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 TOURISM in the UK has rocketed thanks to locations appearing in major TV shows and films, according to a new report. The report reveals the locations most likely to inspire tourism are stately homes; historic and religious buildings; and rural or village landscapes.  At the Brideshead Revisited shoot at the art deco Eltham Palace (Greenwich), the film’s production manager gave a short talk to visitors to engage them with the filming process, whilst special tours at Osterley House (Hounslow) have been tailored around what has filmed there. Rebecca Kane, English Heritage visitor operations director for London said: “Filming at our London sites not only brings in much needed income to help with their high running costs but also raises the profile of our historic properties. “The power of film is clearly demonstrated by its ability to literally more than double the number of visitors coming to our properties overnight and more importantly it enables us to engage with entirely new audiences who might not have considered visiting a historic site before. It’s fair to say that location filming has become part of English Heritage’s very lifeblood.” Harvey Edgington, National Trust broadcast and media liaison officer said: “Every time we participate in a big feature there is a positive effect on visitor numbers. Filming is also very useful in terms of exposing stately homes to new audiences - working with Bollywood titles and children’s programmes has helped the National Trust reach a new demographic.” Visit London and Film London have produced a range of movie maps highlighting key hotspots and lesser-known locations from recent London hit films, as well as general maps covering Bollywood and other London-shot productions.  The maps have been distributed at information centres around the UK and overseas and hundreds of restaurants, bars, cafes and cinemas in London’s West End. Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London added: “The worldwide reach of new movies such as The Bourne Ultimatum and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer brings profile to London that advertising just can’t buy.  “The success of our movie maps demonstrate the appeal of discovering film locations both on and off the beaten track, with ‘set-jetters’ eager to discover the capital from a movie-perspective and share in the glamour of the big screen.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:57:07 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 A FIRE which devastated a hotel in Newquay has not put tourists off visiting Cornwall. Three people died and over 80 escaped from the fire which gutted the Penhallow Hotel, but according to VisitCornwall, although the fire was greatly publicised, it was stressed the area affected was very small and it did not impact on the rest of Cornwall. Spokesman Julia Cox said: “The effect that the Penhallow Hotel fire had on visitor numbers was very limited as the localised nature of the fire was well publicised helping visitors to appreciate that the rest of Newquay and Cornwall was safe and ready for business. “According to a 2005 visitor report, Cornwall attracts 4.4 million visitors each year and Newquay is one of the most popular destinations, along with St Ives, which was recently named the Best UK Seaside Town by the Guardian. “Each of these towns attract 20 – 25 per cent of all visitors to Cornwall on day trips and another 14 – 18 per cent of visitors actually stay in each town.” Julia also said the region is marketed through VisitCornwall’s website via a series of campaigns focusing on the changing seasons of the year. She added: “VisitCornwall promotes Cornwall to the domestic and key international markets focusing on the Spring, Autumn and Winter months. “The VisitCornwall website www.visitcornwall.co.uk is the main vehicle for promotion along with the Cornwall guide which has a print-run of 250,000.”   Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:55:00 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 SMASH hit TV shows Any Dream Will Do and Grease is the Word are expected to lure a whole new audience to the theatre. The shows have been credited with raising the profile of musical theatre and introducing younger visitors to the West End who have been flocking to see the people they voted into the roles performing on stage. Three million votes were cast in the Any Dream Will Do final which saw Lee Mead triumph to win the role of Joseph at the Adelphi theatre. The interest generated by these shows is something which Theatre Breaks managing director Simon Harding believes is a positive thing for the industry. He said: “These sort of television shows are definitely attracting a different type of audience to the theatre and especially more younger people. “This ties in with Theatre Breaks going to online sales by mid-September, as the younger audience prefer online booking. “It will also attract a wider geographic demographic as not many shows can afford a national campaign so Theatre Breaks become important to aid a West End visit.” Publicity generated by these shows has also led to an overall increase in box office takings- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat sold over £10 million worth of advanced tickets before the show even opened. Simon added: “These shows have created a boom in theatre ticket sales and out of the two shows Joseph and Grease, Joseph has easily generated the most interest. “Personally, I don’t think there are any disadvantages to the effect of reality TV shows but others worry about a dumbing down of product. But maybe as new audiences get into the West End they will become more sophisticated and the West End product will too.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 10:17:20 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 THE value of tourism in Bristol has topped the £750m mark for the first time ever, Destination UK can reveal. Figures released by Destination Bristol - based on a survey conducted by South West Tourism - showed that visitors to the region in 2005 spent nearly £9b with Bristol emerging as one of the tourism hotspots. John Hallett, managing director of Destination Bristol, said: “This is a real milestone for the city because just 15 years ago, a report from the University of the West of England suggested that our tourism economy was worth less than £150m.   “This spectacular growth reflects the huge investment that has been made by both Bristol City Council and the private sector in the city over this period time and we are certain that we can continue to build on this success. “One of the most encouraging features of the survey is that spending by overseas visitors who were staying in the city now exceeds the spending by UK overnight visitors, reflecting Bristol’s growing profile as an international travel destination, and the inevitable impact that Bristol Airport’s growing route network is having. ‘The study has clearly shown just how successful our tourism industry has become. While there are inevitably going to be some periods when we do better then others, and progress is not always smooth, the long term trends are extremely positive.” The study showed that over 15,000 jobs in Bristol now depend upon tourism, a figure that puts the city ahead of the national average for the first time. Coun Helen Holland, leader of Bristol City Council and joint chair of Destination Bristol welcomed the results of the study. She said: “Our projections are that the value of tourism will top the billion pound mark by 2010 and we are well on the way to achieving that. Our tourism sector has become much better balanced in recent years with many more people coming to enjoy our music and arts programmes and our festival and events.”   Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 10:15:59 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 TOURISM experts claim Colchester needs four new hotels if it is to cash in on international visits, Destination UK can reveal. The local council says accommodation capacity is a key issue that needs to be addressed in order for the town to realise its potential. The study into hotel accommodation capacity was completed by Humberts Leisure to assess trends and consider developments and potential developments. Council spokesman Karen Turnbull said: “Increasing accommodation capacity in Colchester is vital if we are to encourage more short breaks here.  “Currently most of our visitors are daytrippers.  We need to do two things: encourage those daytrippers to return here and stay over night and also encourage more people than ever before to visit Colchester on a short break.” It says the town needs a boutique hotel of 20-40 rooms, upper 3 / 4 star, in the town centre; a branded budget, 3 star hotel of 50-100 rooms, edge of town centre; a large nationally branded upper 3 / 4 star hotel of 150 rooms with conferencing facilities and, towards 2010, a large branded 3 / 4 star hotel, out of town centre with easy access to A12. Karen added: “The Council’s tourism team had felt a need for increased accommodation capacity in and around Colchester for some years and it is good to have this confirmed by an official study into the availability of hotel accommodation locally. “It will prove invaluable to developers looking to invest in hotel construction and refurbishment as well as the Council’s Planners when receiving applications for new developments.” The report found hotels are turning business away because they have such full occupancy. Coun Christopher Arnold, added: “There are few destinations, especially in the East of England Region, which can claim to have such tourism potential.”   Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 10:14:36 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 A GROUP of Cumbrian tea shops have celebrated National Green Tea Day by employing a Japanese Geisha to guide them through the traditional tea ceremony. The day was organised by the North West Farm Tourism Initiative as part of a plan to attract more Japanese tourists to the area. Cumbria is already a popular destination for visitors from Japan but tourism bosses are expecting a further boom in numbers after the Japanese release of the film Miss Potter. Spokeswoman for the Tea Trail Cumbria, Annie Swarbrick said: "We have created National Green Tea Day to introduce our British, American and European visitors to the health benefits of green tea.   "At the same time, we are gearing up to be excellent hosts for our Oriental visitors.  We are certain those Japanese tourists who have been inspired to visit Cumbria because of Miss Potter will be keen to drink in the Cumbrian landscape and experience good old Cumbrian hospitality, as Japanese visitors are already some of our greatest fans.” To try to find the right sort of guidance, they issued an advertisement, hoping someone would come forward via the world-wide web, or printed media.     This led to the Tea Trail Cumbria linking up with the York-based organiser of the 2008 Festival of Japan, Jill Clay, who has years of knowledge on all things Japanese. For National Green Tea Day, Jill advised the Tea Trail on the world of green tea, including how to serve it and its undisputed health benefits along with Japanese colleague, Naoko Sakagami, in full Japanese costume to make sure thngs were done authentically. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 10:13:06 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 A new production of The Rocky Horror Show has appeared at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre for a limited run of just one week. The biggest and baddest rock ‘n’ roll musical follows the squeaky-clean sweethearts Brad and Janet on an adventure they’ll never forget, with the scandalous Frank N Furter, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta. The cast included Emmerdale star Hayley Tamaddon as Janet. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:48:55 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 By Mary Ferguson THE chairman of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) has appealed to the new Prime Minister to ‘take tourism seriously’ by increasing funding and showing more interest in the industry. Former tourism minister Lord Lee of Trafford addressed Gordon Brown the day after he succeeded Tony Blair in June, during Lords’ question time. After asking if the new PM would consider bringing tourism into the title of the department for culture, media and sport – and receiving a ‘deadpan’ response – Lord Lee stated that the non-mention was ‘symptomatic of the lack of interest in the industry shown by Tony Blair’. Speaking exclusively to Destination UK, he said: “We want Gordon Brown to be a lot more supportive of tourism than Blair was. We want more interest shown, and Visit-Britain’s funding increased as at the moment we have a limited representation overseas. The cost of visas also needs to be addressed.” At the moment, he said, it can cost an Indian family up to £400 to come into the UK, and this is putting people off visiting. “We’d like to see Mr Brown start accepting invitations to tourism events and conferences, to show willing if nothing else. As chancellor he didn’t show much interest in the industry but we hope this will change now he is Prime Minister.” To welcome Gordon Brown into his new role, the ALVA delivered a package to his personal secretary, containing tickets to iconic visitor attractions that form ‘the jewels in the crown’ of the tourism industry. The new PM now has the chance to treat his children to a free day out at venues including York Minster, Kew Gardens, the National Portrait Gallery and Chester Zoo. Lord Lee added: “We hope that he and his family will make use of these tickets. It’s our visitor attractions that encourage people to come to the UK and the Government needs to take more interest in our cultural heritage – as well as topping up funds for museum purchases. I’m optimistic for the future of UK tourism but it’s vital that we get more support.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:48:49 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 SCOTLAND’S marketing agency has designed a giant kilt for film superstar Shrek. VisitScotland have been working closely with Paramount Pictures to explore Shrek’s possible Scottish heritage and Lochcarron, based in Selkirk, wove the green and brown tartan especially for his 102-inch waist. Voice actor Mike Myers bestowed a Scottish accent on the lovable ogre when he first came to life in Shrek in 2001. VisitScotland hopes to use the stunt as a way of promoting Scotland and how people can trace their own history and potential Scottish roots. Spokesman Jenni Steele said: “We wanted to highlight just how diverse Scotland’s heritage can be – and if Shrek can have a tartan, so can anyone. There are thought to be in excess of 50 million people across the world who can claim Scottish ancestry, so this is a great opportunity to be able to link our national heritage with such a well loved film character.” VisitScotland is developing ways of promoting the destination to film fans. The organisation recently worked in partnership with Sony Pictures to promote the themes and locations of The Da Vinci Code, tying the essence of the film into the real mysteries, myths and legends Scotland has to offer, resulting in a multi-million pound, global campaign to drive awareness of Scotland. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:48:42 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 A new show has opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach which combines glamour with song, dance and elaborate costumes. Forbidden features a cast of 20 performers and takes the audience on a journey from traditional theatre through to Parisian burlesque. It has been designed to entertain every audience through a combination of soundtrack and costumes, which are completed with hand sewn crystals. Bookings are being taken for the show which runs until November. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:48:35 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-07 TV star Vernon Kay has officially launched Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s brand new ride Infusion. It is the world’s first suspended, looping rollercoaster completely over water which cost £8m to develop. The opening event featured fireworks, ice sculptures, stilt walkers and wading violinists. Vernon said: “It’s great to be back in the North West. I have been to the Pleasure Beach many times and it’s great to be asked to officially open the new Infusion ride. The first drop was awesome and a real adrenalin rush. I’m sure that Infusion will be a great success and attract millions of visitors this summer.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-07-02 13:20:49 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 By Christina Eccles A SHORT film has been created by the Northwest Regional Development Agency to encourage people to visit the North West of England. It features a host of talent from the region including Maxine Peake of Shameless, writer and broadcaster Howard Jacobsen, actors John Thomson and Craig Cash and a number of cameos including Johnny Vegas and Badly Drawn Boy. The film was shown at The Beautiful North event – a celebration of the region’s culture which took place in London’s Manchester Square. NWDA director of marketing Peter Mearns said: “The Northwest is one of the most artistic and culturally dynamic regions in Europe and the short film commissioned by the NWDA will help showcase just how much the region has to offer. “It is a major coup for the Northwest that we were able to engage so many talented performers in creating this film; it is real evidence of the passion and belief in the creative talent which exists in the region. “This campaign aims to position the Northwest as a leading location for arts and culture and raise awareness of the wealth of leading venues, exhibitions and world class cultural events the region is home to.” The launch event was designed to showcase the best of what the region has to offer to London-based artists, performers, curators, journalists and critics and encourage them to come and experience first hand the Northwest’s cultural offering. It also features a preview performance from the Manchester International Festival, an insight into this year’s Turner Prize shortlist, showing for the first time outside London at Tate Liverpool and highlighting Liverpool’s coming year as European Capital of Culture. The promotional film will be shown in art-house cinemas across London and the South East and is timed to coincide with key cultural events taking place across the Northwest. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-21 15:27:47 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 By Nicola Lambert BRITAIN is gearing up for an Indian summer with the launch of a new Bollywood Britain map and website. The campaign encourages Indian visitors to follow in the footsteps of their favourite stars and experience the destinations featured in con-temporary and classic Bollywood films. VisitBritain will distribute 30,000 maps in India to take advantage of the 25 per cent increase in visits last year, which now means that Indians make more visits to the UK than the Japanese. Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain, said: “Britain has become the popular choice for the world’s biggest movie industry and VisitBritain has led the way since 1996 in capitalising on this ‘screen magic’. “Some 23million Indians go to see a film every day and you only have to look at the figures to see that more and more of them are being inspired to visit Britain. Britain’s popularity as a Bollywood backdrop can only help us raise our profile among this growing audience and Bollywood Britain will show them all they can enjoy while they are here.” Statistics show that 40 per cent of potential visitors are “very likely” to visit places from films or TV. The map highlights the best areas for shopping, food and drink, sport and British culture. Thirty Bollywood films feature on the map profiling locations in London, Bath, Blackpool, Lancaster and Preston, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, the Lake District, Oxford, Weymouth and throughout Scotland and Wales. Film-makers have also used iconic attractions such as Blenheim Palace, Cliveden House, Longleat House, Cheshire’s Nunsmere Hall, Stowe Gardens in Buckinghamshire, Waddeston Manor and Shropshire’s Walcot Hall. One area which has had booming ‘Bolly-wood’ success is Wales which has seen visits from India increase by 175 per cent with visitors spending £10m – double the 2005 figures. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-21 15:25:29 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 NESSIE has been voted the ultimate Highlands and Islands icon by visitors to the Highland 2007 website. Worldwide nominations came after an initial competition in Scottish Provincial Press titles and the top six most popular icons were then put forward to an online poll. Chair of Highland 2007 Alison Magee said: “We are delighted by the response we received for the online vote. “It’s great to see so many people from all over the world visiting the Highland 2007 website and finding out more about what is happening as part of the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture. "Nessie is a deserved winner of the title as she is a recognised icon throughout the world and always draws visitors to the Highlands in their hunt for the elusive creature.” Other nominations included Flora Macdonald and Rob Roy Macgregor Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-13 10:40:49 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 INTERACTIVE TV advertising is being used to attract visitors to Scotland for the first time. VisitScotland’s new campaign means that satellite viewers across the UK will be able to go interactive during the adverts and find out more about Scottish events and festivals. The adverts will run on over 80 satellite channels including Sky, Sky Movies, Sky Sports, UK Gold and ITV2, reaching an audience of around 7 million people. The fast paced advert features live footage from a range of events around Scotland including the Dundee Flower and Food Festival, the British Superbike Championships and the Perth Festival of the Arts. Alan Graham, VisitScotland Fife Area Director, said: “Tourism is one of the most competitive markets in the world, with Scotland competing for visitors with over 200 other countries. “To ensure that we seize every opportunity to entice people to visit we need to try new things and embrace new technology, like this interactive TV campaign.” The new interactive adverts will also give viewers the chance to request an e-brochure through their TV which contains more information about events and accommodation available. The campaign follows recent research conducted by VisitScotland which found that around 40 per cent of UK visitors are inspired to book a trip to coincide with an event or festival. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-01 10:43:45 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 A SERIES of walking tours have been set up in Belfast, which highlight the city’s literary heritage. The Literary Walking Tours, organised by the City Council, in partnership with the Linen Hall Library and the Kitchen Bar, will run every Monday evening throughout the summer Chair of the city’s tourism and promotion sub committee Diane Dodds said: “Belfast is the home of many literary greats and this is yet another early evening activity which both residents and visitors from further afield can enjoy.” Chief Librarian at the Linen Hall Library, John Grey added: “As one of the key literary institutions in Belfast, the Linen Hall Library is delighted to work with Belfast City Council in helping to develop what is on offer in our city every evening.” Places visited on the one hour tour include the Linen Hall Library, The Crown Bar, the City Hall, Kelly`s Cellars, Rosemary Street, Writer`s Square and Amelia Street. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-01 10:43:36 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 BIRMINGHAM International and Coventry Airports are two of the fastest-growing airports in Europe, according to a new report. The annual Airport Property Market report revealed Coventry to be the fastest growing freight airport in the UK and the ninth fastest growing European passenger airport, while Birmingham International is rated the second fastest growing UK freight airport and the fifth fastest growing European freight airport. Chris Monk of property consultants Kings Sturge - who conducted the survey - said: “Increased passenger numbers are currently being boosted by the boom in low-cost carriers which continues to be fuelled by the seemingly insatiable demand for cheap flights to holiday destinations. “As far as the future is concerned, there is no doubt that climate change policy and regulation will have an increasing impact on aviation activity. However, it will be interesting to see whether security concerns reduce demand for air transport significantly – or whether airport operators increase their demand for space to accommodate more staff, equipment and much larger holding areas for passengers.” Other changes could also be on the cards – especially where airport design is concerned – because of increasing demands being made on airport facilities in view of rising numbers of passengers of low-cost flights. Chris added: “Because low-cost carriers have to drive down costs, they are famously tough when it comes to negotiating the rent of airport facilities. “If airports continue to offer the same facilities to low-cost carriers as to all other airlines, there will be inevitably be a mismatch in terms of the cost and quality of service provision to differing airline companies. It will be intriguing to see how airport operators respond to this.” Coventry has now entered the ’league table’ of Europe’s top ten fastest-growing passenger airports for the first time. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-01 10:40:38 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-05 ARNOLFINI, Bristol’s contemporary arts centre has received Visitor Attraction Quality Assured Status from Enjoy England. This means that the venue can now use the coveted rose quality mark giving visitors a clear indication of high standards across all areas of the visitor experience, including customer service, cleanliness, ambience, hospitality and food. Director Tom Trevor said: “This is great news for Arnolfini and really demonstrates the hard work that the team have put into welcoming visitors and to running the building effectively. It also shows how successful the refurbishment of the building has been in improving people’s experience of the arts as well as our facilities.” The centre recently underwent a two year refurbishment project to improve access and upgrade facilities. Since its reopening in September 2005, over three quarters of a million visitors have experienced the centre’s range of contemporary art exhibitions, live art, dance, film, lectures and events. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-05-01 15:12:06 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-05 POP star Suzanne Shaw has launched the 2007 boating season at Cliveden in Berkshire. Suzanne, formerly of pop band Hear’Say and leading star of several West End productions, at the country house hotel. Manager Tim Pettifer said: "We are delighted to open the new boating season for summer 2007, this promises to be a successful year for Cliveden and our vintage launches, offering guests their own slice of English boating experience." Summer guests at Cliveden can take a champagne cruise or a privately chartered vintage cruise from Cliveden and visit attractions like Bray, Windsor and Marlow. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-05-01 15:10:23 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 JOURNEY times between Northern Ireland and Scotland will be cut by Belfast’s new Stena Line ferry terminal which is being built at a cost of £35 million. The three-storey building will include a restaurant, lounges, a viewing gallery and dedicated facilities for HGV drivers and is due to open in time for the summer season next year. To mark the scale of investment, the company’s executive board travelled from its Swedish headquarters to mark the occasion at an event hosted by Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The port’s chairman Len O’Hagan said: “To ensure that those travelling from and to Scotland do so in the quickest time possible, the Port has physically moved itself closer. 80 years ago it began reclaiming part of Belfast Lough with millions of tonnes of stone and sand, creating a site that will allow the relocation of its Belfast operations nearer to Scotland. “In addition, the Port will also build a new dual carriageway directly linking the new terminal with the M2 at Fortwilliam to provide easy access for drivers and hauliers. This is part of a £140 million investment programme to enhance what is Northern Ireland’s primary gateway to the world.” Stena Line’s global CEO, Gunnar Blomdahl added: “The Irish Sea is a key part of Stena Line’s international business and also one of its strongest growing markets. Together with a new proposed facility in Cairnryan, the new Belfast terminal will reduce travel time by 20 minutes and allow Stena Line to provide additional sailings. “Despite the impact of low cost airlines and a volatile fuel market, we have continued to grow our business and nowhere is this more evident than on the Irish Sea. I feel that this exciting development will only serve to further enhance our offering in this market.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-13 09:19:33 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 DEVON County Council has launched a new campaign to promote Devon as England’s greenest county. The Discover Devon Naturally campaign will highlight the importance of sustainable tourism in the UK and demonstrate why holidaying in Devon can be environmentally friendly. It is directed at educating the country’s tourism businesses to operate in environmentally friendly ways and underwrites the cost of becoming ‘green-accredited’ via the Green Tourism Business Scheme. There is also a website to accompany the project, www.naturallydevon.com, which provides visitors with a guide to planning environmentally friendly holidays and details green-accredited accommodation, attractions and restaurants, where to buy local produce, public transport information and a responsible visitor code.  Executive member for regeneration Humphrey Temperley said: “It is an exciting time for Devon as we roll out this new campaign across the UK. The wider activities of Devon County Council and our commitment to sustainable tourism means we really are the greenest holiday destination and the greenest county. “With the number of travellers using UK airports expected to double by 2020 to 400 million a year, we need to think about the effect holidaying abroad will have on our environment now. It is important to set in motion a trend for holidaying in the UK before it’s too late and to provide people with information and advice on how they can help do their bit to combat climate change.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-13 09:17:11 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 OSCAR winning film The Queen’s could help increase Britain’s appeal as a set-jetter’s paradise, tourism chiefs have announced. Film tourism or ‘set-jetting’ is an increasingly popular holiday option with 40 per cent of potential visitors “very likely” to visit places from films or TV. Chief executive of national tourism agency VisitBritain, Tom Wright, said: “The film can act as free advertising for a destination, location or attraction; shown to millions of people around the world and whenever they watch the DVD. “Showcasing destinations through film helps maintain the enduring popularity of our beautiful landscapes and countryside, centuries of history, iconic characters, actors and actresses and literary greats.” British tourism is expecting a double whammy from The Queen because of the royal locations that appear on screen and the film’s resonance with Britain’s royal heritage appeal. VisitBritain claim 82 per cent of potential visitors would be most likely to ‘sightsee famous monuments or buildings’ on a visit to Britain, while 46 per cent of Britons enjoy heritage sites and castles while on holiday. Every year millions of visitors from Britain and overseas enjoy places and events associated with the royal family and earlier kings and queens. Pageantry and royalty have been a part of the British tourism experience since the early days of the industry and there are no signs that interest is waning. The top five royal attractions in the country alone account for 3.8 million visits each year. As well featuring popular tourist spots in London – such as 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace – Culzean Castle, Blairquhan Castle and Waddesdon Manor appear in The Queen. As patron of British Tourism Week, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is undertaking a series of engagements on to draw further national and international attention to the size, value and importance of the tourism industry. Chairman of British Tourism Week, Stephen Dowd, said: “Our unique royal heritage is critically important to Britain’s visitor economy. “His Royal Highness’ interests in heritage and in many of the quintessential elements that constitute Britain’s tourism brand, make him a perfect ambassador for tourism. “Royal recognition of the importance of British Tourism Week will help us redefine both the image and the reality of British tourism in the important years ahead.” Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-13 09:14:39 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce a tourism tax in the UK have been scrapped by the Government. Industry leaders feared the ‘bed tax’ would have made the country too expensive for overseas holidaymakers and killed the tourism industry. But, following a report by Sir Michael Lyons - which suggested that the Government should consult on the costs and benefits of giving local authorities the power to levy taxes on tourism - Government ministers have pulled out of the plans. Minister for Local Government Phil Woolas revealed that the Government is not inclined to add a tourism tax due to the lack of evidence on its impact. Kurt Janson, of the Tourism Alliance, added: “The impressive aspect about this statement is the speed with which it was issued. When an independent report such as this is released, the Government has three months to respond to the recommendations and the usual trick is to gauge public opinion over the three months and then respond accordingly just before the deadline. “So to come out straight-away stating that the Government was not even going to consider the recommendation was a considerable step forward in the Government's understanding of tourism.” The British Hospitality Association had planned to lobby the Government in an attempt to stop the accomodation levies and chief executive Bob Cotton has called its rejection a ‘victory for common sense’. It claimed British people already spend £18 billion more on overseas holidays than Britain earns from overseas visitors and a tourist tax would have increased that imbalance. Bob said: “For the last three years, we have consistently pointed out the difficulties of introducing a bed tax and emphasised how damaging it would be to the UK tourism economy. We are delighted that common sense has prevailed." CEO of Best Western Hotels David Clarke had also expressed concern over the plans and the company had even launched on online petition. He added: "We are obviously delighted that the Government has listened to our concerns and rejected the Lyons inquiry recommendations. It finally brings a close to the tourism industry’s long campaign against this proposal." Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-13 09:09:36 http://www.destination.uk.com/?page=news&monthyear=2007-02 THE non-stop rail service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport has topped a poll in a national passenger satisfaction survey and has achieved the highest ever score. Passenger Focus, the independent national rail consumer watchdog, surveyed 25,000 rail passengers about their rail journeys over the past six months and Heathrow Express was given a 96 per cent satisfaction rating. Brian Raven, managing director, said: “As a rail-air link to one of the world’s busiest airports, we are one of the first experiences for any incoming visitor and we are proud to be providing the best of British customer service. Destination UK - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-02-07 15:06:52