Tourist campaign ‘Worth the Wait’

Tourism chiefs in County Durham have launched a marketing campaign that promotes the county for day visits or staycations to people all over the North East.

Visit County Durham is promoting the area as being ‘Worth the Wait’ – the first stage of activity to get tourism back on track by attracting summer visitors and extending demand into autumn after normal visitor economy was significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The campaign also provides a free promotional platform for Visit County Durham partners and visitor economy businesses – with hundreds featured on the dedicated ‘Worth the Wait’ website.

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “As people enjoy spending more time with loved ones, we want to encourage them to choose Durham for their next day out or staycation.

"Research shows that tourism from within our own region will recover first, as consumer confidence starts to build, and residents become comfortable with returning to their favourite places or discovering something new a short journey from home.”

Cllr Joy Allen, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for transformation, culture and tourism, added: “County Durham is home to beautiful countryside, a spectacular coastline, rich heritage and high-quality shops, restaurants and accommodation providers.

"All these assets will play a crucial role in boosting tourism and in doing so helping ensure the county is on track for economic recovery.”

The website for the campaign is www.thisisdurham. com/WorthTheWait