MILLIONS of pounds of investment in transport have been announced to boost Newcastle and Gateshead's chances of becoming major conference destinations.
Around £400m investment in air, sea and rail travel was announced at the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative Annual General Meeting yesterday.
It has been estimated an extra four million visitors will come to the region if the towns win the European Capital of Culture 2008 title.
The chief executives of Newcastle Airport, GNER and DFDS Seaways presented their strategies for the passenger transport industry at the Annual General Meeting of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, the area's destination marketing agency.
Neil Rami, chief executive of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: "We have the capacity already to attract many more visitors to the region. However, what's really exciting is the investment in rail, sea and air travel which is clearly going to increase that capacity further as we build this area as a major tourist destination in the years between now and 2008.
"The investment plans by some of our key operators are crucial.
"This is a major signal to the rest of the UK and Europe that Newcastle and Gateshead, with the rest of the region, is serious about being in the premier league of visitor destinations and about the impact this will make on the local economy."
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