Visit County Durham
Visit County Durham (VCD) is the destination management organisation for County Durham and one of a portfolio of nationally supported, strategic, and high-performing accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships. We provide strong local leadership and governance, and are committed to the promotion, management, and development of County Durham as a great place to live, work, visit and do business.
Visit County Durham works in partnership locally, regionally, and nationally on shared priorities and targets. Our mission is to support and grow the visitor economy through robust destination management, strong stakeholder relationships and clear planning.
Our vision is to create the conditions for our residents, businesses, and the environment to benefit from sustainable growth in our visitor economy. By supporting and marketing our distinctive heritage, landscapes, culture and warm welcome, we will grow both day and overnight visits and make County Durham a compelling, global destination for tourism, culture, and business.
Destination performance
20.15m
(Visitors Annually)
6.5m
(75 Attractions)
8%
(Overnight Stays)
13,178
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.23bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
More chefs announced for Bishop Auckland Food Festival
19 Feb 2025
The full line up of celebrity chefs for Bishop Auckland Food Festival has now been confirmed, as organisers announce who will be appearing on Sunday. County Durham’s biggest food festival returns to Bishop Auckland on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April, for two days of sizzling street food, delicious desserts and fun-filled family entertainment. There […]
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VisitBritain publishes inbound tourism forecast for 2025
18 Feb 2025
VisitBritain has today, 18 February, published its inbound tourism forecast for 2025, showing that international visits overall and visitor spending to the UK are set to increase on 2024 levels, although with varying rates of growth from across its major inbound markets. VisitBritain’s overall forecast for spending by international visitors in the UK in 2025 […]
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Voting open for North East representative at VisitEngland's Tourism Superstar Award
14 Feb 2025
Kynren’s head of volunteer casting and engagement is flying the flag for the North East in VisitEngland’s national tourism superstar award – and voting is now open. Wendy Wilshere is one of ten finalists in the prestigious national competition which celebrates the dedication and passion of the industry’s employees and volunteers. With finalists from other […]
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Arty, Inc
Gavin Selby - Creative Designer, Photographer and Filmmaker. Gavin has over 18 years experience within the creative arts and is highly passionate about Graphic Design, Photography, Filmmaking, Video Editing and Animation. Trading under the name Arty, Inc. he works closely with local businesses, authorities and groups to create bespoke content for their online presence (Social Media and search […]
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Durham Coffee
Situated in Sacriston, we’re a father-daughter roasting duo with a passion for coffee and a love for the North East. With a range of beans from around the world, we aim to showcase the diversity of flavour within the speciality coffee industry and hope to encourage people to connect to our wonderful region through our […]
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The HUB Consett Market place
With over 65 stockists The Market Place is a catalogue of small and micro businesses looking to grow their businesses within the North East. Our small business community is a hive of thriving small businesses always looking out for the next opportunity to grow and prosper in the local area.
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Everdurance
We distribute sustainable drinks in eco-friendly packaging to businesses and events across the UK. As self-confessed eco enthusiasts, we’re committed to helping companies cut down on single-use plastics and achieve their own unique sustainability goals. Did you know that 77% of consumers are more willing to purchase goods or services from a company that shows […]
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Visit County Durham latest
VCD Blog - Progress and pace continues as we look forward with optimism
As 2025 is now in full swing it feels great to be looking ahead with excitement and optimism.
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Durham and Tees Valley partnership showcases shared rail heritage
Following the exciting announcement this week of the opening event of the S&DR200 international festival, the 200th anniversary of the journey that changed the world is being harnessed by Visit County Durham and Visit Tees Valley for an exciting new partnership. The festival is providing the destination management organisations with a hook to promote their shared […]
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VCD Blog - Working towards a more sustainable future
As world leaders recently gathered in Baku for Cop29 it is a reminder of the ever-present threat of climate change and the need for us all to take action. According to the World Economic Forum a recent study puts the tourism industry's impact at 8% of global carbon emissions.
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Make your Next Stop Durham
UK holiday makers are being urged to explore the beauty of their own country before jetting off to other destinations. A new campaign is highlighting why Durham should be at the top of everyone’s must visit list. Its unique and diverse experiences and world-class attractions make it the perfect...
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