COACH TRIPS DRIVE UP TALL SHIP VISITOR NUMBERS
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Hartlepool Tall Ships
> COACH TRIPS DRIVE UP TALL SHIP VISITOR NUMBERS
TALL Ships organisers have been buoyed up by the number of people who chose to travel by coach to the maritime extravaganza in Hartlepool last week.
Of the estimated 970,000 visitors, up to 25,000 arrived by coach from destinations as far flung as Scotland and Wales.
Eddie Brown Tours, which operates coach trips from the Harrogate and York area, said it had received only positive feedback from those who travelled to The Tall Ships Races event.
Excursion administrator Paul Winchester said: “We took around 350 people to Hartlepool to see the spectacle and there have been a lot of very good comments about the Tall Ships experience.
“It was easy to make bookings for our ten coaches. We certainly intend to come back again soon so our clients can enjoy other attractions such as Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience.”
VisitEngland’s Chief Executive James Berresford said: "Iconic events like The Tall Ships Races present a fantastic opportunity for tourism in England.
“Not only do events like these offer visitors a spectacular day out, they offer a real boost to the local economy, and provide the destination with excellent international media coverage.
“I congratulate Hartlepool on a successful event which has not only benefitted the local area but will have had a positive effect on the whole of the North East."
There were 57 vessels in port during the event which also featured a busy programme of live music, a World Market, street theatre, a folk festival and three spectacular fireworks displays on each of the first three days.
Hartlepool was the only UK host port for the Tall Ships Races 2010, with the vessels arriving from Kristiansand in Norway following the second and final race.
