Northumberland strikes Gold at prestigious travel awards

Northumberland has won Gold at the British Travel Awards and picked up the coveted title of “Best UK Holiday County/Destination of the Year”.

The county received the prestigious accolade at an awards ceremony in London.

Northumberland beat off stiff competition from Cornwall, Peak District, the Scottish Highlands, Devon and others. The county has been pipped to the winners post for the last four years by Cornwall.

The win follows a social media campaign led by Northumberland County Council, and supported by Northumberland Tourism, which encouraged residents and visitors to vote and show their love for the county.

Leader of the council, Cllr Peter Jackson, said: “Northumberland has been runner-up at these awards for the last four years, so to finally bring the Gold home is an amazing achievement for the county.

“We all know what a wonderful place Northumberland is to live, work, visit and do business and we are increasingly becoming the destination of choice with more than £10m visitors coming to the county in 2017, but this award will help put us firmly on the visitor map.

“Northumberland has so much to offer as a destination from our award-winning accommodation providers and attractions to our stunning landscape and heritage.”

Cllr Cath Homer, cabinet member for Culture, Arts, Leisure and Tourism added: “This award is made all the more rewarding as it is the only travel industry accolade which is voted exclusively by the consumer.

“This is a really exciting time for Northumberland and this award will help us show potential visitors from across the UK and further afield just what we have to offer.

“It has taken a lot of hard work and effort by everyone in the industry to get to where we are today and we need to continue to work together to prove why this award is so well deserved.”

Jude Leitch, director of Northumberland Tourism, said “Tourism is vitally important to Northumberland, both in terms of employment and economic growth. Winning Gold is great recognition of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the industry across the county”.

British Travel Awards’ chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “Northumberland is to be congratulated on winning Best UK Holiday County/Destination. The Awards serve to recognise all that is great about travel, as experienced by the travelling public. To win a British Travel Award is a true achievement.”

Tourism is a key economic driver for Northumberland making up 11.8% of the county’s economy and contributing £665m. In 2017 the county welcomed more than 10 million visitors an increase of 6% on 2016.

 

Pictures: Leader of NCC Peter Jackson collects Gold for Northumberland at the British Travel Awards and Northumberland representatives  at theBritish Travel Awards.