Celebrity Chef unveils Essex tourism campaign
Date: 15 June 2006
A unique poster campaign to promote Essex to rail travellers has been launched by Mark Baumann, celebrity chef and acclaimed restaurateur.
The campaign was unveiled at Colchester North Rail Station and forms part of an ongoing marketing campaign designed to promote the Real Essex.
In total, five eye-catching posters have been designed reflecting the county’s rich tourism offer and specifically its great coastline, heritage, landscapes and wonderful places to eat and drink. The posters will be displayed at a number of ONE rail stations, including London Liverpool Street throughout the Summer season.
Theo Steel, Projects Director at ONE Railway and Chairman of the Essex Development & Regeneration Agency (ExDRA), the two partners that have collaborated on this unique initiative, is confident that the campaign will make a real impact. “Essex has a fantastic product to promote to the visitor and the poster campaign will help to reinforce the message to the thousands of people passing through these rail stations. The posters are colourful, imaginative and eye-catching and I am sure that they will turn a few heads!”
Mark Baumann, who unveiled the posters at Colchester North Rail Station is equally excited about their impact. “Essex certainly does have much more to offer than meets the eye, particularly when it comes to quality places to eat and drink. I was delighted to be asked to be involved in this project and am sure the campaign will be a huge success.”
Editor’s notes:
1. Volume and value of tourism in Essex
Research from the East of England Tourist Board indicates that tourism is worth over £1.5 billion to the Essex economy each year. It is estimated that in 2004 there were over 44 million day visitors that came to the County.
2. ExDRA’s tourism activities
The Essex Development & Regeneration Agency (ExDRA) promotes Essex as a visitor destination by bringing together a range of organisations to deliver a joined up approach. Partners include Essex County Council, local authorities, Visit Britain, the East of England Tourist Board, the Essex Tourism Association and the local tourism industry. A range of initiatives that seek to ensure that the County is adequately promoted are carried out.
Specific initiatives currently being led by ExDRA include:
• The RealEssex website www.realessex.co.uk
• Production of visitor publications including the RealEssex guide, Festival of the Countryside guide, Essex Churches and Essex Gardens guide, the Review, a quarterly life-style magazine and 8 themed itineraries for independent travel
• Raising the profile of the County as a tourist destination through positive PR activity
• Supporting and advising the local tourism industry so that the tourism “product” in Essex can be developed and expanded
• ExDRA also hosts Insite, the Essex Cultural Tourism Programme - a partnership of all district, borough, unitary and county councils of Essex, currently supported by Arts Council England.
3. Background to ExDRA
The Essex Development & Regeneration Agency was formed in 2004 from the former Enterprise and Regeneration Division of Essex County Council and the Essex Economic Partnership. The Agency works with a variety of partner organisations on a series of programmes and activities to help improve the economic prosperity of Essex.
For more information please contact:
Stuart GrahamMedia and PR Manager
Essex Development & Regeneration Agency
Tel: 01245 702415
Email
stuart.graham@exdra.co.ukElli ConstantatouTourism Programme Manager
Essex Development & Regeneration Agency Tel: 01245 702453
Email:
elli.constantatou@exdra.co.uk
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