Newstrack

VisitBritain keen on marketing Manchester

Chetan Kapoor - Mumbai

In a bid to promote other regions of the UK, VisitBritain is looking at attracting traffic to Manchester. Paul Simpson, deputy CEO and finance director for Marketing Manchester, the tourist board for Greater Manchester, says, "The board is looking at raising awareness in India about Manchester and is working closely with VisitBritain, the Manchester Airport, Northwest Development Agency and England's North Country. The agenda is to position the region as a gateway to north England. "We are centrally located with London and Scotland being just two hours away, Northern Wales about 40 minutes." He adds, "Over the next 18 months we will engage with the travel trade and host FAM trips. Ours is a medium-long term programme and we hope to see the shift in the visit pattern to the region in the next five years or so."

The board intends to focus on heritage tourism because of the history in the region. Sporting tourism too is one of the biggest traffic pullers for the region because of football and cricket. Simpson also pointed that they are interested in MICE and shopping as well.