Press Release

A partnership that is helping to raise awareness of the Durham Heritage Coast across the UK and beyond has been renewed.

Visit County Durham is once again joining forces with the National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) to promote the county’s dramatic coastline as a sustainable year-round holiday destination.

As an official partner, Durham coastal attractions, activities, accommodation and events are featured on NCTA’s England’s Coast website, where visitors can find inspiration for their next seaside getaway. The county is also featured in England’s Coast communications and marketing activity.

The announcement comes six months into the Year of the Coast 2023, a domestic and international campaign led by NCTA to showcase the diversity of coastal destinations, while also highlighting the challenges faced by communities and businesses in these areas.

The campaign coincides with the completion of the King Charles III England Coast Path, which includes the Durham Coastal Footpath and will be more than 2,700 miles long when it fully opens later this year.

Visit County Durham is a key partner in the campaign and has been working alongside NCTA to spread the word about why the county’s coastline so special. Activities has so far included the creation of a Year of the Coast hub and blog on the This is Durham website, influencer collaborations, media visits by national and international media, an online competition in partnership with Good Housekeeping and themed social media activity.

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “Working with NCTA on the England’s Coast and Year of the Coast campaigns has delivered some fantastic results for Durham. Not only has it helped secure national and international coverage, but it has strengthened our links with other coastal destinations and provided a great hook on which to showcase the Durham Heritage Coast at events and on social media.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work with NCTA to shine a light on our spectacular coastline.”

Samantha Richardson, director of the National Coastal Tourism Academy, said: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Visit County Durham to promote this transformational coastline. With its dramatic cliffs and headlands and beautiful beaches there’s plenty to attract more UK and international visitors to this beautiful coastal stretch particularly in this Year of the Coast; we look forward to another successful year working together.”