� IN FOCUS l NORTHWEST ENGLAND Merseyside


Liverpool 2018 will be a celebration of the city’s culture and creativity, promising a “kaleidoscope of art, music, theatre, technology, style and sport”. Samantha Mayling reports


A


decade since Liverpool was European Capital of Culture, the city will host a year-long


series of cultural events during 2018. Called Liverpool 2018, the festival will encompass art, culture, fashion, business and sport – and aims to attract extensive worldwide global media exposure. The celebrations come on the back of a boom time for the city. Chris Brown, director of the destination


marketing organisation Marketing Liverpool, said: “The 2016 tourism data shows another good year for the Liverpool City Region. “We experienced growth against all


our key metrics: one million extra visitors year-on-year; a 3.9% increase in staying visitors; and a record number of local people employed in the sector, now 51,000.


� Remarkably resilient “The sector has been remarkably resilient and economic impact is at its highest ever level, £4.3 billion in 2016. “What this demonstrates is the


continued attractiveness of Liverpool city region as a visitor destination, bringing new people to the city to experience the cultural, sporting, retail and lifestyle assets we’ve built on in the last decade.” Looking to 2018’s events, he said:


“Next year we celebrate some important anniversaries – 10 years since European


44 TravelGBI | November 2017


makes merry


THE FAB FOUR: A statue of The Beatles in front of the Liver Building, Liverpool.


travelgbi.com


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