Liverpool & The North West is launched to Chinese travel trade
Liverpool has been placed firmly on the Chinese tourist trail following the launch in Shanghai of the first ever dedicated North West of England tourism package to target the growing number of Chinese wanting to travel overseas.
More than 80 senior figures from the Chinese tourism industry attended an event at the Liverpool Pavilion at the World Expo where they learnt about the range of offers now available to tourists from China who wish to visit the region.
The event also saw the launch of a new tour from China Holidays which takes in all of the North West’s unique areas and features Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage waterfront, the Lake District, Manchester United’s football ground and the Roman city of Chester.
A delegation of tourism officials from the region were joined by tour operators, travel writers and travel agents and were told about the region’s top attractions and world class cultural offer.
Organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and led by Felicity Goodey, chair of Tourism England’s Northwest, the group represented the best of the Northwest’s tourism destinations; Liverpool, Manchester, the Lake District, Chester and Lancashire.
Ms Goodey said: “England’s Northwest is five very different regions in one. It has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in Europe but it is also the home of the industrial revolution. It is full of historic towns and buildings but it also has very modern cities where the latest fashion, music, art and sport are enjoyed by all, and it’s all within easy reach of London.
“This event provided an unrivalled opportunity for us to showcase the best of what the Northwest has to offer. It was a chance for us to strengthen our relationships with Chinese travel trade and press and an opportunity to ensure we know how to guarantee our Chinese visitors a wonderful experience when they visit the region which has shaped the history of Britain.
“Manchester and Liverpool have established close links with the Chinese people over many years and we look forward to welcoming our Chinese friends to England’s North West.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, said: “China is one of the biggest emerging markets for tourism to the UK and we’re working hard to ensure that the region is well placed to make the most of it.”
Mike Taylor, director of investment and enterprise at Liverpool Vision, added: “We want to encourage Chinese tourists to experience Liverpool’s cultural offer including sport and music; as well as pushing the city as a perfect base from which to explore the rest of the North West of England, including the Lake District and historic cities such as Chester.
“Becoming established as a tourist destination for Chinese visitors will deliver significant economic benefits in the medium term as well as strengthening our relationships in the long term.”
Liverpool is the only UK city to have a dedicated presence at the World Expo. Its participation is being led by Liverpool Vision in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool-Shanghai Partnership.
The event is regarded in Liverpool as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to consolidate existing and forge new relationships in the world’s emerging markets and to showcase Liverpool’s track record of urban regeneration under the Expo theme of Better City, Better Life.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Liverpool is the only city in the UK to have a dedicated pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai.
The Expo takes place every four years and is an opportunity for participants to showcase investment opportunities and cultural distinctiveness to an international audience.
Organisers of the Shanghai 2010 Expo estimate that 70 million people will visit the Expo during its six month run from May 1st to October 31st 2010.
Liverpool’s presence at Expo 2010 is being led by Liverpool Vision in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool Shanghai Partnership.
Its main sponsor is Peel Holdings, which has interests in ports, airports, renewable energy, media and property development across the North West. The NWDA has committed £1.25m to support Liverpool’s presence, whilst Liverpool City Council has committed £300,000.
The Liverpool Pavilion will be housed within the Urban Best Practice Area of the 5.3 sq km Expo site which overlooks the Huangpu River.
For more information please contact Jon Brown at Paver Smith on 0151 239 5000 or 07811 451184. brown@paversmith.co.uk
Contact name: Jon Brown
Contact email: brown@paversmith.co.uk
BACK
The Capital, 39 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9PP Telephone: +44(0)151 600 2900
Email: info@liverpoolvision.co.uk