MERSEYSIDE'S growing tourism industry has crashed through the £1bn-a-year mark for the first time, helped by the massive increase in flights to and from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The breakthrough landmark figure is revealed in the annual report today of The Mersey Partnership, the area's economic and tourism promotion agency.


Liverpool is already firmly established as a premier city-break destination as it prepares for Capital of Culture year.


Source (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16147595%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=mersey%2dtourism%2dincome%2dhits%2d%2dp ound%2d1bn-name_page.html)

THE number of overseas visitors to Liverpool has doubled in just 12 months making it a more popular destination than Oxford, Bath and Cambridge.

The city is now ranked sixth in a league table of Britain's top tourist destinations, up 10 places on the previous year.

Figures compiled by the Office of National Statistics recorded 438,000 international visits last year compared with 210,000 in 2004.

Experts say the boom in tourism has been driven by the city's Capital of Culture win as well as a significant increase in the number of flights into John Lennon Airport. Pam Wilsher, head of tourism sector development at The Mersey Partnership, said: "There are all sorts of reasons why there has been such a big growth in numbers but Capital of Culture has got to be a key part of that. It has heightened the profile of the city region.

"But the growth of JLA is also a major factor. There are a significant amount of visitors from Eastern Europe and Spain.

"Sporting events like the Grand National, Open golf and Liverpool FC's Champions League success also raise the profile.

"When international tourists visit they tend to stay longer and take more advantage of the attractions. The Beatles Story had its best year ever last year and many of those visitors were international.

"We project tourism will continue to grow although that can never be certain. Global factors around everything from terrorism to the exchange rate have an affect but we have a wide portfolio and are well placed to continue growing.

"The impact of the World Heritage Status is only just starting to kick in and there will be new shipping facilities."

The International Passenger Survey monitors visitors coming to the UK by air, sea or the Channel Tunnel. Passengers are sampled on all major routes in and out of the UK.

Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley wants to continue building on the success to push the city further up the league table.

He said: "Tourism is one of our biggest industries now and it is paying dividends. You can feel the impact when you walk round the city. We have always believed that if people visit once, they will visit again. When they come for business they come back again for leisure and when they come for leisure they stay longer the next time.

"These figures show that Capital of Culture is making a big impact, along with the impact of extra routes at the airport.

"Next year there will also be cruises coming into the city which is going to boost tourism even further. Hopefully, next year, we will be in the top two destinations, and in 2008 the top of the league."

Visitors to Merseyside via JLA alone spend around £73m a year in the region, around £41 per day.

A survey carried out by TMP revealed 98% of visitors who responded would recommend visiting Merseyside to other people with 83% saying they would return before 2008.

The study also found that two thirds of passengers were aware of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture status in 2008.

Robin Tudor, communications manager at Liverpool JLA, said: "We have seen a dramatic growth in recent years and it is not just about people going on cheap weekends away.

"We now offer 60 destinations; 10 years ago we only had three.

"People know the name Liverpool and events such the Champions League win boost that further. There are also a lot of students and European workers in the city so many visitors are friends and family visiting them."

Source (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17408495%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=tourism%2dboom%2das%2dvisitors%2ddouble %2d-name_page.html)...

I bet "The Open" is bringing in many tourists too! It seems that everyone is there, even the Breakfast weather girl!

Maybe the Wirral Sightseeing tour will come close to Breaking even this year!!!!

LIVERPOOL wants a place in Europe's top 20 list for city breaks.

Tourism officials say they are confident Liverpool has what it takes to become second only to London as Britain's favourite.

They are also banking on abig tourism dividend for Merseyside, with visitor spending expected to double to £2bn a year by 2015.

Pam Wilsher, head of tourism sector development at The Mersey Partnership,said: "Our competition is as much in Europe as it is within the UK and we certainly think there's a real opportunity to get within the top 20 destinations.

"We aren't a capital city and we have to understand that. They tend to be the ones people go to first, but there's no reason why people shouldn't come Liverpool as their second city in Britain." continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17418639%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=city%2daim%2dfor%2deuro%2dtop%2d20-name_page.html)...

I tell you what the British Open coverage wont do it any harm either,Liverpool has had a million and one positive plugs which are going out all over the World.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

More than 200,000 visitors from around the world beamed across 194 countries.....

The value of that in advertising terms is conservatively estimated at £40m.

There are at least 700 journalists there, and not all sports correspondents, but lifestyle writers looking at the cultural side.

The Golf Open is wonderful for the Liverpool city region, and with the whole show moving to Birkdale in two years there is more to come. It is a good curtain raiser for our birthday year next year, and more importantly our year as European Capital of Culture in 2008. Thanks to the weather Merseyside and Liverpool are being seen at their very best by people from all over the world.

A LIVERPOOL open-top bus operator has joined forces with the city's attractions to offer a sightseeing experience for thousands of tourists. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17438289%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=ticket%2dto%2dride%2dfor%2dtourists-name_page.html)

More than 200,000 visitors from around the world beamed across 194 countries.....

The value of that in advertising terms is conservatively estimated at £40m.

There are at least 700 journalists there, and not all sports correspondents, but lifestyle writers looking at the cultural side.

An estimated 400 Million watched the Open at Royal Liverpool,I'd say Liverpool will come off looking brilliant after this because on American T.V leading into the tournament it was Liverpool and its attractions which featured heavily and Hoylake to them is just a suburb of Liverpool anyway.Roll on 2008 when we're European Capital of Culture and the Liverpool bay area hosts it again at Royal Birkdale.:celb (23):

Mersey gets full glare of world publicity from global events
Jul 26 2006
Matt Johnson, Daily Post

IN IT for the long game or a quick win? In the space of 10 days Merseyside witnesses two events spanning the world. On Saturday, the Clipper fleet is set to make a triumphant return to the Mersey after circumnavigating the globe since their departure from Liverpool last summer.

Last week, the eyes of the world fell on Wirral as Hoylake hosted the 135th Open Championship.

More (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/business/news/tm_objectid=17449686&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=mersey-gets-full-glare-of-world-publicity-from-global-events-name_page.html)...

....while I was watching, long lenses crossed the whole Wirral Peninsula to pick out the Liver Birds and St John's Beacon complete with 08 branding, thus ensuring viewers knew how close the action was to the UK's next European Capital of Culture.

Great stuff!! :celb (6):

Polls show Merseyside's image is streets ahead

THE image of Merseyside around the rest of the UK has raced forward in the past five years, a survey by pollsters MORI has revealed.

The survey highlights upbeat trends in perceptions about the north-west of England, with Liverpool, Chester, Manchester and the Lake District headlining the image table.

Perceptions of Liverpool have improved significantly since 2001, with views of Blackpool deteriorating slightly.

International opinion-formers see Liverpool and Manchester as key strengths of the north west, viewing them more positively than they are seen by residents of the cities.

Awareness of Liverpool's designation as European Capital of Culture in 2008 is high across the whole of the north west, the survey shows. continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17465167%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=polls%2dshow%2dmerseyside%2ds%2dimage%2 dis%2dstreets%2dahead-name_page.html)...

im surprised it hasnt all happened earlier- theres so much to see in Liverpool and it makes a good base for exploring further afield, into North Wales etc. Liverpool should be at least as popular a destination as Edinburgh, its got so much going for it

The Port of Liverpool has gained two cruise ship visits, at the expense of Mostyn. The ship in question, Van Gogh, will visit Liverpool on the 1. & 10. November 2006 instead of the Welsh port of Mostyn. Van Gogh will be using Liverpool as a base and not just a visit. She will board passengers on 1, November and sail at 1600 hours (4:00pm) cruising to La Coruna, Cadiz, Gib and Lisbon, returning to Liverpool and docking at noon on the 10 November 2006.

It's a start and will compliment the Black Prince which also makes Liverpool her base.

LIVERPOOL is the UK's seventh favourite city, according to a prestigious travel survey. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17685503%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=liverpool%2drises%2dthrough%2dthe%2dran ks-name_page.html)

LIVERPOOL is the UK's seventh favourite city, according to a prestigious travel survey. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17685503%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=liverpool%2drises%2dthrough%2dthe%2dran ks-name_page.html)

We'll probably move right up that league when all the current developments are finished and more and more people see what we have to offer,7th isn't bad for now though.:)

LIVERPOOL is the UK's seventh favourite city, according to a prestigious travel survey. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17685503%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=liverpool%2drises%2dthrough%2dthe%2dran ks-name_page.html)Glasgow, London, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Leeds are ahead of us, which make five, so which other city beat Liverpool?

I dont mind being beaten by Edinburgh Glasgow and London, but how the hell are Leeds and Newcastle ahead of us?

Harvey Nicks dahling!!

FOREIGN tourists are flocking to Liverpool as the "08 effect" creates a £1bn-a-year tourist industry for the city, figures reveal. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=foreign-visitors-double-as-city%2Ds-08-effect-kicks-in%26method=full%26objectid=18178235%26siteid=5006 1-name_page.html)

1.7m people are expected to visit Liverpool for 2008.

I dont mind being beaten by Edinburgh Glasgow and London, but how the hell are Leeds and Newcastle ahead of us?
I'd like to know how these figures are compiled. There's no way Leeds and Newcastle have more tourists than Liverpool. I think the figures are based on package tours going direct to the city. I worked in the Royal National Hotel in London for 13 years and Liverpool was always one of the places our guests visited. Granted, most of the time it was just for the day, but even so. Americans, Japanese, Scandinavians, Australians and Kiwis were always popping up to Liverpool. Even (pre Ayatollah) Iranians!

Challenge to fill 8,000 tourism jobs (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=challenge-to-fill-8%2D000-tourism-jobs%26method=full%26objectid=18327145%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html) - MERSEYSIDE’S booming tourism sector will create an extra 8,000 jobs by 2015, the Daily Post can reveal. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=challenge-to-fill-8%2D000-tourism-jobs%26method=full%26objectid=18327145%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html)

I have to say that this thread smacks of the usual tedious self-promotion that we hear from the council and the Capital of Culture bureaucrats. Does Kev have any connections with these people (I'm new to the site, I don't know these things) ?

I have to say that this thread smacks of the usual tedious self-promotion that we hear from the council and the Capital of Culture bureaucrats. Does Kev have any connections with these people (I'm new to the site, I don't know these things) ?

In my opinion Kev has the best interests of Liverpool at heart. I see no harm in him pointing out the good things about this fine city of ours.

I have to say that this thread smacks of the usual tedious self-promotion that we hear from the council and the Capital of Culture bureaucrats. Does Kev have any connections with these people (I'm new to the site, I don't know these things) ?

All Kev does is create links to the stories to throw open the debate, no harm in that.

Does Kev have any connections with these people

Nope, if I did, then I would use it to my advantage for the benefit of the forum and its members.

In my opinion Kev has the best interests of Liverpool at heart. I see no harm in him pointing out the good things about this fine city of ours.

Cheers mate.

All Kev does is create links to the stories to throw open the debate, no harm in that.

That's correct. The only resources I have are out there already on the net.

Kev, I'm all for posting up links and information, and I see that people trust and respect you for it, so fair play to you.

I think though that stories like this have to be read with a degree of cynicism. There is a lot of debate in Liverpool about the benefits of tourism and regeneration, some of which is reflected from time to time in the letters page of the Post and the Echo : http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/echoletters/tm_headline=your-letters--24th-october-2006&method=full&objectid=17983793&siteid=50061-name_page.html . It's a pity that journalists who churn out stories about tourism coming to Liverpool don't spend more time investigating the truth behind claims that construction jobs aren't going to local people, or that regeneration money isn't trickling down to deprived communities in desperate need of new housing stock, facilities for young people, etc. Is there evidence to show that the tourism business is changing the face not just of the city centre, but of Liverpool's poor neighbourhoods as well ?

I think though that stories like this have to be read with a degree of cynicism. There is a lot of debate in Liverpool about the benefits of tourism and regeneration, some of which is reflected from time to time in the letters page of the Post and the Echo : http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/echoletters/tm_headline=your-letters--24th-october-2006&method=full&objectid=17983793&siteid=50061-name_page.html . It's a pity that journalists who churn out stories about tourism coming to Liverpool don't spend more time investigating the truth behind claims that construction jobs aren't going to local people, or that regeneration money isn't trickling down to deprived communities in desperate need of new housing stock, facilities for young people, etc. Is there evidence to show that the tourism business is changing the face not just of the city centre, but of Liverpool's poor neighbourhoods as well ?

Quite right too.

LIVERPOOL has become a holiday hotspot after official figures revealed one million tourists from mainland Europe headed to Merseyside in the past year. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=liverpool-becomes-a-holiday-hotspot-for-euro-travellers%26method=full%26objectid=18765945%26sit eid=50061-name_page.html)