English Tourism Week brings new deals to Durham

Visit County Durham is launching its latest ‘Durham Deals’ as part of English Tourism Week (Sat March 10 – Sunday March 18 2012).

Durham Deals is a must-use online promotion for any visitor wanting to make the most of a fantastic range of discounts available right across Durham. The promotion enables visitors to enjoy great value days out this spring, by downloading vouchers to use at over 100 tourism businesses across the county, including leading attractions, restaurants, hotels and B&B’s.

English Tourism Week is promoted by VisitEngland to raise the profile and importance of tourism, whilst kick starting the 2012 season with a wonderful weekend of activities and events across the county. As well as launching its spring deals Visit County Durham is also hosting its Industry Conference focusing on rural tourism.

For Durham Deals, Visit County Durham has teamed up with tourism businesses right across the county to provide over a hundred ways to save money. The downloadable vouchers are available on the thisisdurham.com/deals website and offer great-value savings for fun days out, meals and shopping experiences throughout the summer at more than 30 attractions, 43 accommodation providers and 19 restaurants and retail outlets.

Special offers include two-for-one entry to visitor attractions, three nights for the price of two and 25% off at restaurants. Nearly 20,000 vouchers were downloaded in 2011.

Hall Hill Farm is a business that has benefitted from its Durham Deal which offers one free child entry with a full paying adult. “Durham Deals are excellent and easy for both the business and visitors to use. They can be downloaded, used the same day, and are an ideal opportunity to share the magical experience of visiting Durham with partners, friends and family,” said Ann Darlington, tourism manager at Hall Hill Farm. “We are looking forward to welcoming many more Durham Deals visitors this year.”

English Tourism Week is kicking off 2012, and what will be a year packed full with iconic events including The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, The Torch Relay and the finale of the Cultural Olympiad. “Tourism in England benefits everyone, everywhere, every day. English Tourism Week 2012 offers the industry a fantastic opportunity to showcase itself and put the industry centre stage in what promises to be a year to remember!” said John Penrose, minister for tourism & heritage.

“English Tourism Week is all about celebrating our fantastic tourism industry. What better way to celebrate than provide visitors with fun-days out without breaking the bank during challenging economic times,” said Melanie Sensicle, chief executive at Visit County Durham. “Tourism has enormous potential to help Durham’s economy succeed and the Spring Industry Conference is the perfect opportunity for a business to discuss how to grow tourism in rural locations.”

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in County Durham. It is worth £660m to County Durham, employs 10% of the workforce and attracts 18m visitors annually to view its world class Cathedral City, dramatic coast and idyllic rural dales.

For a full list of participating attractions and offers, log onto thisisdurham.com/deals

For more information on English Tourism Week go to visitengland.org/england-tourism-industry/etw/index.aspx