The marketing consortium responsible for the promotion of one of Britain�s most historic cities, Winchester, is gearing up for an anticipated boom in domestic tourism with a newly-devised PR campaign.

Discover Winchester, a 19-strong group comprising Winchester City and Hampshire County Councils, hotels, attractions and conference venues, has appointed travel and tourism specialist The Saltmarsh Partnership to lead a PR drive from April 1.

The Saltmarsh Partnership, with an established track-record in UK domestic tourism, won the business in a four-way competitive pitch.

Winchester City Council�s Head of Tourism, Eloise Appleby said the Middle East crisis and growing concerns of an economic downturn were likely to generate additional UK tourism business this summer and autumn. �We want to be sure we are in the strongest possible position to maximise our position and continue to draw high quality visitors to the city and surrounding area,� she explained.

�The creative strategy put forward by The Saltmarsh Partnership is, we feel, the ideal approach and dovetails well into other marketing initiatives, including direct mail and a new look for our promotional materials.�

London-based Saltmarsh Partnership�s other UK tourism accounts include Isle of Man Tourism, a portfolio of Holiday Cottages Group brands, such as English Country Cottages, Country Holidays and Blakes, and Manx National Heritage. International clients include Hong Kong Tourism Board, Tourism New Zealand, Tourism Victoria and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Managing Partner Geoff Saltmarsh explained that the agency�s strategy would be to build on the city�s established reputation as an historic and cultural centre while developing new themes. These will include its family attractions, literary links � with, for example, Jane Austen � and other special interest and activity options

Discover Winchester�s incumbent PR agency, Ylva French Communications, relinquished the account to concentrate on other business areas.

For further press information, please contact: Geoff Saltmarsh Tel: 020 7928 1600 Fax: 020 7928 1700 E-Mail: geoff@saltmarshpr.co.uk The Saltmarsh Partnership, The Copperfields, 25 Copperfield Street, London SE1 0EN