11/03/2010

Images of York Minster, the Humber Bridge, the Yorkshire Dales, Sheffield's Winter Gardens and Cayton Bay will soon be posted across the globe in the latest marketing initiative by Visit York and Welcome to Yorkshire.

UniversalMail United Kingdom Ltd has joined forces with Visit York and Welcome to Yorkshire to launch a set of iconic stamps of York and Yorkshire, to be sold at the York Visitor Information Centre.

The colourful and picturesque set of worldwide postcard stamps, set in a souvenir strip featuring five iconic images of Yorkshire and the Humber will be launched this week at the De Grey Rooms - York's Visitor Information Centre.

The icons/landmarks featured were chosen to highlight the stunning scenery and diverse nature of the Yorkshire region and include; York Minster, the Humber Bridge, Gunnerside in the Yorkshire Dales, Sheffield's Winter Gardens and Cayton Bay at Scarborough.

UniversalMail United Kingdom Ltd (a subsidiary of the global parent company, New Zealand based, Mail Holdings Ltd) commenced trading in the UK in 2008, based out of the Southbank in London. The company operates in a deregulated postal market through an access agreement with Royal Mail. It produces worldwide postcard stamps and worldwide letters stamps for the retail tourist industry.

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said, ‘What better way to get our message about Yorkshire to the rest of the world than to encourage our visitors to send these images on postcards to their friends and relatives. They say a picture speaks a thousand words and this new promotion will help tell the world that Yorkshire is the must see destination for 2010.'

Jason Butler, Managing Director, said, ‘the stamps tell a story of the region thus creating a unique souvenir for visitors to buy for mailing a postcard or simply to collect. We're confident that visitors will purchase these as a souvenir collectable of their trip to York and Yorkshire - they are a low cost and highly transportable souvenir for the region's millions of visitors each year.'

John Yeomans, Chairman of Visit York said, ‘We're delighted that York's Visitor Information Centre will be selling these iconic images of Yorkshire and plans are already underway with UniversalMail to launch a set of five iconic York images. The best ideas are often the simplest and we hope York and Yorkshire's visitors will like the stamps as much as we do.'

The stamp strips go on sale at York's Visitor Information Centre this week. For technical production information and to purchase the full range of UK stamp strips available please view www.universalmail.co.uk . ENDS

Photo Desks/Interviews
A full set of the stamps is attached.
Interviews can be set up with Gary Verity Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire or John Yeomans, Chairman of Visit York.

For further information please contact:

Kay Hyde - PR Manager - Visit York
Direct Line: 01904 554451
Mobile: 07961 828092
Email: kh@visityork.org

Katie Porter - PR Executive - Visit York
Direct Line: 01904 554436
Email: kp@visityork.org