JUMP right in to the countless attractions and destinations on our own doorstep – that’s the message making a splash as English Tourism Week celebrates holidays at home and woos overseas visitors.

The annual event runs up to March 24 this year with a multimedia campaign highlighted by a wide range of images capturing all that is great about the nation’s tourism offering.

The seaside adventurers getting their adrenaline fix at the head of this post are leaping into the sea at Polperro in Cornwall, while other images include mighty Warwick Castle, Birmingham’s picture postcard canals and Liverpool’s iconic Liver Building.

But it’s not just pretty pictures. Organised by VisitEngland, the campaign aims to support the trade which last year battled back almost to pre-pandemic levels, with £88.9 billion spent on tourism – a figure expected to continue to rise this year.

Figures show that, in 2022, we made 107 million overnight domestic trips; we notched up 945 million domestic day-trips, and there were 27.8 million people from other parts of the world choosing to holiday here.

The campaign aims to continue that growth by kickstarting the spring/summer season, encourage bookings, increase awareness of what we have to offer, and give businesses an opportunity to shine a spotlight on tourism’s contribution in their area.

It runs online and in print media, across social media and in good old-fashioned posters and billboards, and also coincides with the annual British Tourism & Travel Show, which runs on March 20 and 21 at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.

Organisers say: “VisitEngland is proud to lead English Tourism Week, celebrating our diverse, exciting and vibrant sector, and highlighting the quality and value of English tourism.” 

If you’re posting anything about English holidays on social media during the campaign, use the hashtag #EnglishTourismWeek24 and tag @VisitEnglandBiz on X or VisitEngland on Linkedin.

COMING UP: I’ll be reporting from the trade-only British Tourism & Travel Show, where hundreds of holiday ideas, attractions and destinations will be exhibiting, next week. For more information on the show visit the official website.