Visitors looking for a city break this spring/summer are being encouraged to “Escape the Everyday” in NewcastleGateshead.
Visit England’s Escape the Everyday campaign is being delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI)locally, and will launch on Friday (May 27).
The campaign will showcase the diverse range of bookable experiences available in NewcastleGateshead and surrounding areas to inspire consumers to book spring and summer city breaks.
The campaign, which is part of a wider national campaign being funded by VisitEngland will also support the recovery of the tourism sector by generating income for tourism businesses directly and indirectly involved in the campaign.
It will promote a series of products, packages and experiences to a UK-based audience aged 25-44 with no children, to choose NewcastleGateshead for their next mini-break this summer season.
The fund will give a huge boost to businesses still feeling the aftereffects of Covid, which saw visitor numbers to the destination in 2020 fall by 61% and visitor spend fall to £690.2m, a drop of 64% on 2019.
The digitally-focused campaign highlights the unique range of experiences and activities on offer in the region, promoting products that visitors can book now on NewcastleGateshead.com – including; kayaking tours of the River Tyne with CBK Adventures; and a history tour and lunch at Blackfriars, as well as a focus on this year’s UK Pride Festival, which will be held in Newcastle in July.
Sarah Green, chief executive of NGI, said: “This is the second year in a row we have successfully secured funding to be able to deliver this campaign. Escape the Everyday will support those businesses who are still feeling the impact of Covid and will help to reinvigorate the sector.
“This campaign will highlight the amazing choice of experiences we have in NewcastleGateshead. It’s also an opportunity to showcase our fantastic summer of events. We are particularly delighted to be the host city for UK Pride this year and are looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to celebrate the city as a LGBTQ+ safe place.
“We want people looking to escape their everyday lives to choose NewcastleGateshead and enjoy a city break in the North East.”
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “VisitEngland is very pleased to be delivering this fund to support destinations locally as they align their activities to our national ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign, encouraging more people to discover the fantastic array of tourism products on their doorstep and further afield.
“With the slower return of international tourists, now is the time to visit our wonderful cities and remind ourselves why they are such a draw. The funding will also support local businesses who have been working so hard to welcome visitors back and provide a stand-out experience.”
Laura Race, sales and marketing manager at Blackfriars said: “We’re really excited to be part of #EscapeTheEveryday. We’re dedicated and passionate about getting guests back after the previous two years, not just to our restaurants, but to NewcastleGateshead as a city that has so much to offer. It will play huge part in boosting the tourism industry and we’re delighted to support and be involved with the campaign.”
North East businesses and residents are encouraged to back the campaign by sharing the #EscapeTheEveryday as well as sharing the campaign’s website where visitors can discover more and plan their next UK break: www.NewcastleGateshead.com/escape.