Tourism row stalemate ends

The tourist board covers attractions like the Hadrian's Wall walk

A stalemate over the future of the North East's tourism industry has been brought to an end.

Regional development agency One NorthEast announced in December it wanted to dissolve the Northumbria Tourist Board (NTB) and set up a new promotional unit.

But the 1,500 small business members of the NTB said the decision could seriously damage the region's tourism industry and launched a campaign to save it.

Talks between One NorthEast and the NTB had broken down, but they have now started again and a consultation exercise is taking place to establish the board's situation.

One NorthEast chairman Margaret Fay said: "I am delighted that we have identified a way forward for tourism in the region.

We are part of the way along the road and we are really positive about that - but there is still a long way to go Peter Sloyan, chief executive Northumbria Tourist Board

"We recognise that the impasse between the organisations has been unhelpful to all involved in the industry and that a resolution to the situation was needed in order to reassure both NTB staff and also tourism businesses.

"We have listened to NTB's concerns and they have listened to ours.

"However, this has happened very rapidly and there is a good deal of detail that we need to iron out and much of this will be influence by the completion of the due diligence exercise."

The due diligence exercise - a fact-finding project - is being carried out by Durham County Council and One NorthEast.

Subject to that, One NorthEast will take on all the NTB staff and it will also support the creation of an enhanced business network.

NTB chief executive Peter Sloyan said: "We are part of the way along the road and we are really positive about that.

"But there is still a long way to go."

He said the key issue was to ensure there was a formal structure for the businesses to belong to and that needed to be resolved as soon as possible.