Peter Mearns, executive director of marketing at the NWDA, said: “If 2009 is to be the year of the Great British holiday, we need to make sure that England’s north-west is one of the top British destinations.
“We have award-winning places to stay and visit, and this year we have yet another fantastic calendar of cultural events on offer, but we need to make sure people know about them.
“With more people predicted to holiday at home this year, competition will be stepped up across the UK and this striking campaign will raise awareness of the region and help to set us apart.”
Graham Leech, commercial director of Virgin Trains, added: “We are seeing signs of growth in spring traffic, sparked by a fantastic new train service, and the trend for people to explore the great sights of the UK.
“We will be working closely with the NWDA to promote the many attractions in the north-west region during an exciting year.”
