2012 - Time to Visit York: new tourism campaign is launched

'2012 - Time to Visit York' will be promoted across Britain, making sure the nation is in no doubt that there has never been a better time to visit York. 2012 is a significant year in York’s history, marking 800 years since the city was granted its Royal Charter, by King John of England.

To celebrate York has put together a festival programme to rival all others, which begins with the Jorvik Viking Festival in February, followed by a brand new chocolate festival in April, the biggest and most elaborate production ever of the York Mystery Plays in August and a new Science and Innovation Grand Tour throughout May, June and July. 

Britain's biggest rail festival ever will also be steaming into the National Railway Museum in June and Chief Executive of Visit York, Gillian Cruddas MBE, celebrated the launch of Visit York's new marketing campaign by setting the time of the clock, once used to set the time of all railway clocks in York.

Kate McMullen, Marketing Manager of Visit York said,

"With more events and festivals than ever before, 2012 gives us an unprecedented opportunity, enabling us to capitalise on the extension of the staycation and make sure that more Britons choose to holiday in York this year. Our '2012 - Time To Visit York' campaign will capitalise on the continued popularity of holidaying in the UK and make it much easier for visitors to find out what’s happening throughout the year."

A new website www.visityork.org/2012, including a mobile version, has gone live this week, which means for the first time visitors can access York’s information easily on the move and download a host of accommodation, attraction and retail special offers. 

A new nationwide competition had been a launched, offering visitors the chance to win one of twelve VIP experiences at York’s festivals and events, including first class East Coast rail tickets, York Passes and behind the scenes tours.  Visit York's message will be highlighted in advertising and dedicated print throughout the year in London, the South East, the North West and the North East as well as in targeted PR across Britain.  Drumming home the message still further will be a social media events diary, targeting eight thousand Facebook Fans and Twitter followers, which will use the events functionality of Facebook to encourage visitors to invite each other to meet up at York’s festivals and events.

Steve Davies, Director of the National Railway Museum, said,

"2012 will be a tremendous year for York and we are thrilled to be playing our part by hosting Railfest – Britain's biggest ever rail celebration.  We anticipate attracting in excess of 60,000 visitors for this one event alone and we look forward to making 2012 a year to remember."

Councillor Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion said,

"2012 will be a celebration of all that makes York an exciting and vibrant city.  In our 800th anniversary year there has simply never been a better time to visit York. From Britain's biggest rail festival to the York Mystery Plays we are confident of superb year for the city's tourism sector."

ENDS

Notes To the Editor:
*Until the 19th century, each town in Britain had its own local time, based on reading noon as read on a sundial.  This meant that there were small time differences across the country.  For example, when it was noon in Bristol, it would be 12.11 in London, 110 miles to the east.  The rapid expansion of the railway network in the 1840’s and the need for accurate timetables meant that a standard time was necessary and Greenwich Mean Time was adopted, which became known as 'Railway Time'.

2012 – The 'York 800' year round events calendar includes:
The Jorvik Viking Festival, - 11- 19 February
NEW Chocolate Festival – 6th- 9th April 2012
NEW – 'Making of the City' Exhibition - highlights will include star objects, including the York Helmet, Middleham Jewel, Sapphire Ring and St William’s Shrine, alongside paintings and works on paper from York Art Gallery, iconic objects from York Minster and the British Library.
NEW York Science and Innovation Grand Tour 2012- May, June and July 2012
Horse Racing: May – October Every Year
NEW Railfest – June 2012
Festival of Ideas – 16th – 30th June
York Early Music Festival:  6th- 14th July 2012
NEW Yorkshire Medieval Festival- 4th – 12th August 2012
NEW Mystery Plays 2012: 2nd-27th August
The Largest UK Festival of Food and Drink:  21st-30th September 2012
Illuminating York:  24th- 27th October
Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) 8-11 November 2012

For further information please contact:
Kay Hyde – PR Manager – Visit York
Direct Line: 01904 554451
Mobile: 07961 828092
Email: kh@visityork.org

Katie Porter – PR Executive – Visit York
Direct Line: 01904 554436
Email: kp@visityork.org

Visit York

Visit York works in partnership with Welcome to Yorkshire, City of York Council and tourism businesses. Welcome to Yorkshire is charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber visitor economy.

Visit York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor, and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York.  Visit York is responsible for leisure and conference marketing, visitor services (running the city’s Visitor Information Centre), training and developing the tourism product. 

Visit York is the driving force of the city's tourism industry. Key facts:
7.1 million visitors
£443 million total visitor spend
23,000 jobs