There has never been a better time to come to NewcastleGateshead as a leisure visitor or on business.

That�s the message coming not just from destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) � but also VisitBritain; Britain�s national tourism agency.

With a weakened Sterling, overseas visitors and business tourists now get much more for their money in NewcastleGateshead. New VisitBritain research indicates that Sterling, compared with the same time last year, is now 15 per cent cheaper against the Euro.

Andrew Dixon, chief executive of NGI, said: �Tourists and businesses from overseas looking at coming for city breaks, or to hold conferences or meetings in NewcastleGateshead now know that their money goes much further and the exchange rate has never been more favourable. We already offer great value for money in NewcastleGateshead and with the current strength of the Euro we can rightly encourage and anticipate greater traffic from European destinations and the Irish market.

�Our �twin cities� provide a popular destination with a range of enviable tourism assets, from stunning landscapes, a rich history of tradition, heritage and culture, combined with modern design, music, theatre and architecture, as well as boasting a range of diverse quality, �star-rated� accommodation, which has been further boosted by the news of the arrival of a new Jurys Inn.

�We already offer great value for money for business visitors as many of our major venues and hotels throughout NewcastleGateshead and the North East provide day-delegate rate packages half of the cost in London and offer excellent recession-busting offers. But with the present exchange rate you can get much more for your money now."

The most recent survey shows that more than 19 million visitors flocked to NewcastleGateshead, up three per cent on the previous year. And the strength of the Euro has the potential to raise NewcastleGateshead and the wider area�s profile as a leisure destination throughout 2009. Ireland and other European destination are key international markets for the region due to the strong transport connections. 2009 will be the second year of a three-year �Irish campaign�, which emphasises NewcastleGateshead�s great value for money, as well as its sport, shopping and great nightlife offer. Newly-announced flight connections to Shannon and Cork in Ireland, and the reintroduction of Aer Lingus, suggests there is plenty of demand from the Irish market.

Newcastle International airport has also just announced a new flight to Oslo, which indicates growing interest from European markets too. The airport already provides direct links to a wide range of UK destinations and international destinations, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Geneva, Paris, Dublin and Dubai, to name but a few.

DFDS Seaways has also experienced a positive upturn in visitor and vehicle numbers from Holland and Germany already this year compared with 2008.

John Crummie, UK managing director, DFDS Seaways, said: �NewcastleGateshead and the wider North East region becomes even better value for money with a strong Euro. We are seeing a rise in the short break business from Holland and Germany, which the favourable exchange rate is driving.�

Joss Croft, head of business visits and events at VisitBritain, said: �Britain has never been more affordable and there's never been a better time to visit. Destinations such as NewcastleGateshead can capitalise on this and really benefit from it.

�The tourist industry is acting in the economic downturn and offering great deals on flights, accommodation and attractions. NewcastleGateshead offers it all, as both a business and leisure destination - with culture, coast, and countryside, mixed with contemporary, cutting-edge venues in an accessible city.�

NGI will also continue to target the domestic (UK) market and attract visitors to NewcastleGateshead from other UK destinations, particularly as VisitBritain has identified a growing trend towards �staycations� � staying in the UK to holiday.

-Ends-

Notes to editors

� NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) is the destination marketing agency for NewcastleGateshead. Its mission is to position and promote NewcastleGateshead as a leading European destination for leisure and business visitors through cultural programming, event bidding and high-profile, targeted destination marketing and PR activity. Created in 2000 by Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council as a publicly and privately funded business, NGI has developed a strong brand for the area - promoting it nationally and internationally as a place at the forefront of innovative culture-led regeneration and a world-class place to live, learn, work and visit. � NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau uses local knowledge and expertise to help organise conferences, meetings or events in NewcastleGateshead and the surrounding area. It provides a free service including arranging everything from venue sourcing and booking, to accommodation, transport and entertainment for delegates. With a huge choice of state-of-the-art venues NewcastleGateshead is fast becoming one of the UK�s most popular destinations whether it�s for a meeting of 10 people or a conference for thousands. � It is estimated that visitors to NewcastleGateshead from around the UK and overseas contribute �1.2bn to the local economy. � Press releases and copyright-free hi-res images on NewcastleGateshead are available from our website www.newcastlegateshead.com

For media enquiries call: David Bootle, Media and PR Manager � Business, NewcastleGateshead Initiative Tel: 0191 243 8814, Mob: 07766993925 or email david.bootle@ngi.org.uk