Visit Northumberland Showcases Ambitious Plans for English Tourism Week 2025
19 Mar 2025
Northumberland’s thriving visitor economy to take centre stage during national tourism celebration.
Visit Northumberland, the region’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), will lead celebrations for English Tourism Week 2025 showcasing the county’s record-breaking visitor economy growth, business development opportunities, major investment projects, and commitment to regenerative tourism.
A series of activities are planned throughout the week to celebrate and support the sector, all underpinned by a Visit Northumberland communications campaign to engage with visitor economy businesses. Actions include:
- delivery of business development workshops focussing on developing marketing capabilities, photography and effective use of AI in partnership with the Northumberland Small Business Service;
- recognition of Northumberland’s excellence at the 2025 North East England Tourism Awards, where 29 Northumberland representatives will be honoured across 16 of 18 award categories;
- participation in the Northumberland Tourism Fair in Alnwick;
- inclusion in various regional events coordinated by Destination North East, the region’s Government-funded Destination Development Partnership.
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Andrew Fox, Chair of Visit Northumberland said, “We are committed to fostering a resilient and inclusive visitor economy and invite partners, businesses and visitors to join us in celebrating Northumberland’s achievements and future opportunities this English Tourism Week. Northumberland’s visitor economy is a major economic contributor, vital for employment and our regenerative approach provides a pillar for sustainable growth that benefits the residents and their communities that serve visitors to our destination."
Tourism is a cornerstone of Northumberland’s economy, with the county welcoming over 10 million visitors in 2023. The sector contributed a record £1.262 billion to the local economy, marking a 7.9% increase from the previous year. As the second-largest employment sector in Northumberland, tourism supports over 14,600 jobs and continues to drive investment and innovation.
Visit Northumberland’s marketing efforts continue to elevate the region’s profile. International campaigns are currently in delivery in the USA, Germany, France and the Netherlands, while international outreach in partnership with VisitBritain and other regional partners has seen over 100 travel buyers and journalists visit the county.
In 2024, the visitnorthumberland.com website attracted over 1.6 million new users, and visitor satisfaction remains exceptionally high, with 99% of surveyed visitors recommending Northumberland as a destination.
By championing strategic investment, sustainable growth, and world-class visitor experiences, Northumberland is set to further flourish with key investments such as new cultural events initiatives and the multi-million pound Borderlands capital investment programme enhancing the region’s tourism appeal.
Cllr Jeff Watson, Cabinet Member for Healthy Lives with responsibility for tourism at Northumberland County Council, said, “We remain committed to growing a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive visitor economy with regeneration, investment, and cultural innovation the key drivers of our ambitions. When combined with our rich heritage, breathtaking landscape and welcoming people, these elements forge an environment of entrepreneurial spirit that creates the economic, social, and environmental benefits that tourism brings.”
Organised by VisitEngland, English Tourism Week is a national celebration bringing together the tourism industry to highlight its importance to local communities and economies. This year’s campaign, under the strapline ‘Supporting People and Places to Drive Growth,’ showcases the innovation, quality, and range of tourism products and services that encourage domestic breaks across the country.