ONE of Cumbria’s leading tourism operators has launched a major push to bring new national and international business to the county.

The first stop? The Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Show.

Lake District Estates is planning a series of high-profile activities this spring to attract visitors to Cumbria in 2024, with the four-day show at the Manchester Central convention complex getting a busy diary of events under way.

In the coming weeks, representatives from the family-run company will be meeting tour operators from around the globe to showcase Cumbria to both domestic and overseas travellers.

Next up will be ‘Britain and Ireland Marketplace’ on January 26 in London.

Hosted by ETOA (the European Tour Operators Association), the event will enable Lake District Estates to promote attractions like Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway to international, European and domestic travel buyers.

The lucrative North American market comes under the spotlight with a virtual event called ‘European Travel Marketplace’ in late February.

Then on March 20 and 21, the team from Lake District Estates will be heading to the British Tourism & Travel Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Known as BTTS, the event takes place in English Tourism Week and they will be one of the companies partnering with Cumbria Tourism to inspire travel buyers planning group tours in 2024 and beyond.

Other key events coming up for Lake District Estates later this spring include the two-day ‘Destinations Exchange Europe’ in central London (April 8-9), along with the ‘Steve Reed Group Buyer Roadshow’ at RHS Garden Bridgewater on May 13.

Rachel Bell, head of marketing and business development at Lake District Estates, said: “These high-profile travel trade events are vital for not only reinforcing our existing partnerships with group travel operators, but also establishing and developing business in new markets too.

“Forging strong links with organisations like ETOA, the European Tour Operators Association, is a key part of this work and we’re excited to be partnering with them again in 2024.

“Post-pandemic, we face stiff competition from other destinations across the UK, so we need to make the most of every opportunity both to promote our region to potential domestic visitors and to help lure international visitors beyond London by highlighting the Lake District as a favoured destination on their travel itineraries.”