A CAMPAIGN to promote the North-East as a destination has achieved global recognition by being nominated for a World Travel Award.

The "Passionate People, Passionate Places" campaign, which features the Durham women's rowing team and Chris Davy, owner of the Rose and Crown at Romaldkirk, was launched less than four months ago by regional development agency One NorthEast.

The marketing material is now in the running for the world's best regional marketing campaign, part of the World Travel Awards.

It is pitched against four other nominations, including Catalunya in Spain, Miami in Florida, Poitou-Charentes in France and Saxony Anhalt in Germany.

Voting is underway on the World Travel Awards website www.worldtravelawards.com and other leading travel internet sites.

The winner will be announced on Sunday November 13.

Stacey Hall, director of communications at One NorthEast, said: "This is a tremendous accolade for North-East England and a recognition of the level of support the regional image campaign has attracted from across the North-East.

"Receiving international recognition for the campaign at this early stage is excellent news for the North-East and is testament to the impact it is already making.

"The nomination provides valuable impetus in our drive to increase national and international awareness of what our region has to offer and will clearly help to attract more people to the region, in turn boosting the economy."

The 'Passionate people. Passionate places' advertising has been developed by One North East in conjunction with Newcastle-based agency Different.