A PARTY of Germans flew from Newcastle Airport yesterday after a whistle-stop tour of the North-East.

The delegation of 25, described as key media and leading travel trade representatives, were in the region at the invitation of Newcastle International Airport, the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and German airline Hapag-Lloyd Express.

Their visit was intended to showcase not only Newcastle and Gateshead, but the whole region, to continue the promotion of tourism via the airport, and specifically to increase the number of German visitors.

Among the stops on the visitors' itinerary were Housesteads Fort, on the Roman Wall, Alnwick gardens and castle, in Northumberland, a presentation at the Baltic arts centre, in Gateshead, and a tour of Newcastle and Gateshead.

Kathie Wilcox, of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: "The initial feedback has been very good and we will be following it up to build on the weekend once they are back behind their desks in Germany.

"I think they knew that Britain generally had some nice countryside, which was underlined over the weekend, but they were also very impressed and surprised by the rest of what they saw."

The visit follows last month's launch of the low-cost air route between Hanover and Newcastle, operated by German airline Hapag-Lloyd Express.

It is hoped the link will increase tourism and provide economic benefits for the region.