’08 celebrations set to net Northwest £100m
As Liverpool gears up for its year in the Cultural spotlight, the rest of England’s Northwest is working in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Liverpool Culture Company to ensure that the whole of the region benefits from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
A unique programme of events across the Northwest to celebrate ’08 is set to bring in an additional £50 million in visitor spend to the Northwest economy, in addition to the £50 million expected to go directly to Merseyside over the coming year from 1.7 million additional visitors. It is estimated that this year alone European Capital of Culture will be worth £100 million to the Northwest economy in visitor spend.
Bryan Gray, Chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said:
“Liverpool 2008 is ideally positioned to use culture to transform perceptions of the city and to drive tourism. With the range and scale of events on offer during Capital of Culture year across the whole of the Northwest, there will never be a better time to visit the region.”
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the NWDA, added:
“This year is hugely important not only for Liverpool, but for the whole of the Northwest. As the celebrations get underway for Capital of Culture the eyes of the world will be on England’s Northwest and it is critical that we seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show the world exactly what we have to offer here. Working with our partners across the Northwest on this unique programme of events will ensure that the legacy of 2008 is felt across the whole of the region.”
With more gardens open to the public, per head of population, than anywhere else in the UK, Cheshire is holding a 12 month celebration of the rich heritage of gardens and green environment the county proudly holds. Cheshire’s Year of Gardens is set to feature traditional and new events including the magnificent RHS Flower show at Tatton Park and the Garden Festival at Arley Hall, Boodles Legends Tennis at Adlington Hall as well as Blue Bell Festivals, jazz, opera and a unique Pumpkin Games.
Alternatively visitors can enjoy living adventurously in the Lake District with Cumbria and the Lake District’s Year of Adventure. An adrenalin-fuelled calendar of outdoor events, new activities and exciting challenges, 2008 is set to create a new Adventure Capital. With some of the UK’s best walking and cycling routes, Cumbria’s outdoor adventure playground has something to offer everyone. As a taster, thrill-seekers can try out England’s first Via Ferrata – using a fixed cable to follow a Victorian miner’s route along craggy cliff faces using steel ladders and solid bridges to reach the 2,126 feet summit of Fleetwith Pike in the Borrowdale Valley.
Taste Lancashire 08 – The Year of Food & Drink is a year-long celebration of Lancashire’s great local produce. It’s a year of events and promotions championing accredited eateries, local producers, farmers` markets, young chefs and fine local food and drink including Lancashire cheese, Morecambe Bay potted shrimps, beef and lamb from the Forest of Bowland, award-winning beer Pendle Witches Brew through to the herbal drink Sarsaparilla enjoyed in place of alcohol by the Temperance Movement.
2008 is the single biggest year of world sport in Manchester since the XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002. The city will be hosting a unique series of unmissable championship events during Manchester World Sport 08 including the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships, the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships. Manchester will be buzzing with passion and adrenalin, as the world’s greatest athletes arrive in numbers, ready to test themselves against the best of the best, in pursuit of some of the most prestigious prizes in their sports.
For further information visit us at www.nwda.co.uk
For more information on Cheshire’s Year of Gardens, visit www.yearofgardens08.com
For more information on Cumbria and the Lake District’s Year of Adventure visit www.golakes.co.uk/adventure
For more information on Taste Lancashire 08 visit www.tastelancashire08.com
For more information on Manchester World Sport 08 visit www.manchesterworldsport08.com
