17/01/2012

A new marketing campaign to boost visitor numbers to York during 2012 has been unveiled by Visit York this week at the National Railway Museum. ‘2012 - Time to Visit York' will be promoted across Britain, making sure the nation is in no doubt that there has never been a better time to visit York. 2012 is a significant year in York's history, marking 800 years since the city was granted its Royal Charter, by King John of England.

To celebrate York has put together a festival programme to rival all others, which begins with the Jorvik Viking Festival in February, followed by a brand new chocolate festival in April, the biggest and most elaborate production ever of the York Mystery Plays in August and a new Science and Innovation Grand Tour throughout May, June and July.

Britain's biggest rail festival ever will also be steaming into the National Railway Museum in June and Chief Executive of Visit York, Gillian Cruddas MBE, celebrated the launch of Visit York's new marketing campaign by setting the time of the clock, once used to set the time of all railway clocks in York.

Kate McMullen, Marketing Manager of Visit York said, ‘With more events and festivals than ever before, 2012 gives us an unprecedented opportunity, enabling us to capitalise on the extension of the staycation and make sure that more Britons choose to holiday in York this year. Our ‘2012 - Time To Visit York' campaign will capitalise on the continued popularity of holidaying in the UK and make it much easier for visitors to find out what's happening throughout the year.'

A new website www.visityork.org/2012, including a mobile version, has gone live this week, which means for the first time visitors can access York's information easily on the move and download a host of accommodation, attraction and retail special offers.

A new nationwide competition had been a launched, offering visitors the chance to win one of twelve VIP experiences at York's festivals and events, including first class East Coast rail tickets, York Passes and behind the scenes tours. Visit York's message will be highlighted in advertising and dedicated print throughout the year in London, the South East, the North West and the North East as well as in targeted PR across Britain. Drumming home the message still further will be a social media events diary, targeting eight thousand Facebook Fans and Twitter followers, which will use the events functionality of Facebook to encourage visitors to invite each other to meet up at York's festivals and events.

Steve Davies, Director of the National Railway Museum, said, ‘2012 will be a tremendous year for York and we are thrilled to be playing our part by hosting Railfest - Britain's biggest ever rail celebration. We anticipate attracting in excess of 60,000 visitors for this one event alone and we look forward to making 2012 a year to remember.'

Councillor Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion said, ‘2012 will be a celebration of all that makes York an exciting and vibrant city. In our 800th anniversary year there has simply never been a better time to visit York. From Britain's biggest rail festival to the York Mystery Plays we are confident of superb year for the city's tourism sector.' ENDS