In an innovative and exciting new bid to attract tourism to Norfolk and Suffolk, Suffolk based communications design agency Spring has been appointed by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils to deliver an ambitious three year programme to promote the wonderfully abundant, but often unrecognised, offering of cultural tourism across both counties.

Itself based in the Suffolk coastal town of Southwold, Spring is a dynamic agency that has focused on tourism and culture, both regionally and internationally, since it was founded eight years ago.  The team is perfectly placed to shine a well deserved light on the region's world class cultural tourism offering.

Both counties are home to many diverse organisations, places and artists with national and international reputations and also to a fine selection of accommodation and places to eat and drink. With this new campaign, Spring will cement the reputation of the region as a must-see cultural destination and will create valuable economic growth. Tourism in the region is currently worth £4.6bn annually, with approximately £2.8bn and £1.8bn generated by Norfolk and Suffolk respectively.

Councillor Rebecca Hopfensperger, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for localities, environment and waste, said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to contract a vibrant, internationally significant local business to deliver this project. With this appointment made we will continue to attract even more visitors, which will be a real boost to the local economy.”

Erika Clegg, co-founder of Spring, said:

"Culture is one of our greatest mutual assets and tourism is undergoing a period of growth. This is an exciting and much-needed opportunity to raise the profile of our region, bring more people to enjoy these beautiful counties, and really show Norfolk and Suffolk's light to the world. We are delighted to be involved.”

Norfolk and Suffolk have an extraordinary cultural sector that has truly blossomed in the past twenty years as the result of public investment, entrepreneurial leadership and a growing public passion for the arts. Some well known cultural assets of the region are Aldeburgh Music, whose 2014 Britten celebration saw Peter Grimes on the beach described as “the most talked-about event of the summer”; Norfolk & Norwich Festival which will deliver a major piece of immersive theatre at Felbrigg Hall in June 2015; Spill Festival, an international Festival of challenging Live Art; the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket; DanceEast in Ipswich delivering world premieres of the best of  contemporary dance and globally-acclaimed Gecko Theatre Company and Pacitti Company.

Research by Visit England and Office of National Statistics estimated that in 2011 there were a total number of 31,228,000day visitors to the region. In 2010 there were 1,787,000 staying visitors in Suffolk, staying a total of 6,525,000 nights, and 24,808,375 day visitors.

The total business turnover supported by tourism is £2,786,197,000. Tourism in Suffolk supports 17,131 full time jobs, and 34,237 tourism-related jobs in total, equating to 11.3% of the workforce. The total business turnover is £1,755,306,500.

The Cultural Tourism project is financially supported by The Arts Council of England (£150K) and the New Anglia LEP (£100K). It is managed by Suffolk County Council on behalf of the New Anglia LEP Cultural Board. The New Anglia Cultural Board is one of the LEP's sector groups and its members are senior figures from culture, heritage and tourism across the two counties.

For further information contact Lucy Henson at Spring on 07990 978609 or lucy@agencyforchange.co.uk