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Tourism numbers up in north-east

Record tourism figures have been recorded in the north-east of the country, according to a local tourist organisation.

Self-catering holidays – such as those in caravans – reached an all time high in the summer months, the North East Tourism Advisory Board (NETA) revealed.

“The value of online bookings taken via the regional system has more than doubled on last year,” explained NETA chairman Geoff Hodgson.

“[The] wealth of history and heritage we have in the region, including two World Heritage sites at Hadrian’s Wall and Durham Castle and Cathedral, makes for an unforgettable holiday.”

He added that there has been a lot of investment into the area, which has led to a number of new attractions opening.

The comments follow a National Trust report which showed that paying visitor numbers at its properties in the north-east had risen by more than 100,000 year-on-year.

So far, 713,968 people have purchased tickets for one of the body’s sites, while membership numbers have also risen by 5,307.