Members of the Northern Tourism Alliance have ensured that the North East is geared up for a strong online presence throughout 2013 and beyond, with a number of newly developed websites delivering some impressive statistics.

More than ever, having a strong online presence is important to attracting visitors. When looking for their next holiday, consumers are likely to research, plan, and book online – for destinations, this means making your area as attractive as possible, and ensuring the experience of finding out about activities, attractions and accommodation is a productive and enjoyable one.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham said, “Choosing a destination and things to do on holiday has always been a ‘process’, where people will research, compare and then make a decision. More often, people are choosing to cut out traditional tools such as brochures and travel agents, and carry out the research and bookings themselves. The main way they do this is of course, the Internet.”

Visit County Durham has recently overhauled its popular www.thisisdurham.com website to give it a fresher look, and greatly enhanced functionality, with dynamic home page content, and information categorised in order to give the visitor the best, and easiest possible user experience. Visits for the last three months are up 62% on the same period last year. Visit County Durham is also among the first tourism organisations in the UK to develop a mobile version of their site, so that people can access information on the move.

Jude Leitch from Northumberland Tourism adds, “Although people want to feel confident in their decisions, they often don’t have the time to trawl around looking at accommodation websites, then attraction websites, then look for restaurants. This is where the North East as a whole excels. The region’s tourism agencies have pulled together all the information people would need to be inspired to choose the North East for their next trip.”

Tania Robinson, Head of Marketing and Communications at South Tyneside Council said, “We’ve certainly noticed an increase in visitors using the internet to research their next holiday or day visit. In fact our dedicated visitor website, www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk, recorded a 132% increase in visits in the last 12 months compared to the previous year.

“We are constantly developing the site with new features and recently launched a mobile enabled version. Over the coming weeks we’ll also be launching a new event section of the site, which will help us highlight the great programme of events we have taking place in South Tyneside this year”.

Elsewhere in the region, NewcastleGateshead Initiative saw a 71% increase during 2012 in visits to the destination website www.NewcastleGateshead.com and it surpassed the 1-million unique visitors mark at the end of the year. The online platform is just one part of the organisation’s digital strategy to reach visitors and those considering a trip, with complimentary free iPhone and Android apps supplying up-to-date information directly to smart phones and tablets.

NewcastleGateshead Initiative has also launched an online shop (www.shopNewcastleGateshead.com) featuring a range of cool and quirky NewcastleGateshead products, including gifts, souvenirs, homewares, books, clothing and cards.

Northumberland Tourism has re-launched www.visitnorthumberland.com on a unique platform developed in-house. The bespoke system has allowed a complete overhaul of the county’s tourism website which now features inspirational images, interactive, customisable maps and a user friendly search facility helping visitors access information quickly and easily.

Since the launch of the new website in January this year Northumberland Tourism have seen an 85% increase in page visits with the average duration visitors spend on pages up by 60%.

Completing the regional picture, The Hadrian's Wall Trust has just launched a new visitor website, www.visithadrianswall.co.uk. Alex McCoskrie, communications and marketing manager for the Hadrian's Wall Trust said:
"We want to inspire more people locally, nationally and internationally to visit more places right across the 150 mile world heritage site, which stretches from Ravenglass in the west to South Shields in the east.

"Our new website is more exciting and informative. It covers attractions and Roman sites, the many activities on offer in Hadrian's Wall Country. The website is aimed at local people and visitors alike, helping everyone find out about events and holiday planning and booking. It also works harder for local tourism businesses helping them to promote their goods and services.”

Success in delivering tourism services online depends on the ability to deliver websites that meet the needs of both consumers and industry. Those needs are broadly the same; the availability of timely and accurate information delivered by user-friendly means.

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Notes to Editors

About the Northern Tourism Alliance
The Northern Tourism Alliance includes: Hadrian’s Wall Trust, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, North East Hotels Association, Northumberland Tourism and Visit County Durham. Areas that are represented by local authorities and not destination management and marketing agencies are: North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland and Tees Valley Unlimited.

The Alliance works to share information, plan and work cooperatively on a coordinated, coherent and effective approach to the development of North East England’s visitor economy and the promotion of its visitor offer.

The Alliance champions the visitor economy in the joint area of operation working with economic forums, agencies and organisations including Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Association of North East Councils.

For further information please contact:

Neil  McLoram
Tel: 03000 261 225
Email:    neil.mcloram@visitcountydurham.org