Why do we seem hell bent on assuming that this made-up region of Humberside is going to be a sound source of visitors to Hull. Why isn't there a lobby to improve the A1079 from York? Without doubt, York can be one of the main feeder Cities but it won't help having to spend an hour behind a tractor or an extended rail journey to get here. Perhaps Lincoln may bring a few, but surely Leeds and York has the biggest potential, yet we ignore them.
There is much to do over the next 3 years. Yes we can expect day trippers from these places but we must target weekenders from all over the UK, Holland and Belgium and have the hotels and infrastructure ready for the influx and make sure they all get a pleasant surprise.
Don't worry Mussie, I'm certain HCC will be all over this and will continue to deliver the sterling service to the region they always have. I'm sure the Councillor with the Culture Portfolio is already working on awesome plans to publicise and help regenerate the whole region as a visitors paradise and "go to place you must see" as we speak. If it all fails and is a huge disaster, I'm sure Dr Allam will get the blame, HCC can't lose can they?
Hull has already got most of what it is going to get out of the City of Culture award. The publicity when the nation was gobsmacked that Hull won was worth more than everything to come. I think it's a little fanciful that roads need to be upgraded to cope with what will only be IMO a steady trickle of extra visitors.
Hardly a welcome - it's on the Westbound carriageway! I think you're underestimating the programme of events set for 2017 - they're not simply aimed at being somethingbthat can be a side-attraction to York & Leeds. The events are aimed at bringing people here specifically to see Hull, to spend more than a day here. Derry's visitor numbers were very good; winning city of culture means a city is thrust into the limelight throughout the year not just nationally, but internationally as well. The city of culture team is made up of creatives and various businesses from across the region - it isn't just council members, meaning for once we got/are getting fresh new ideas.
1 event a day, 25 'Freedom' sized festivals, Radio 1's Big Weekend, The Turner Prize - possibly The Brit awards too - and worldwide publicity (Travel sites lap this type of thing up as something new/different to offer customers).... oh and the setting for a Hollyoaks special, haha. I don't think it calls for road improvements (other than Castle St alternatives), but I hope rail travel into Hull is more reliable by 2017, as it will be needed. I think we'll see more than a 'trickle' - Derry is proof the accolade attracts. It gives off masses of free publicity that has people curious about what they're missing.
Chalk and cheese, patty. Far better to base it on what happened with the previous awardee. Derry-Londonderry was the UK City of Culture for 2013 and saw massive economic and social benefits. For every £1 invested, UK City of Culture was expected to generate £5 and the city expected at a conservative estimate, an extra 600,000 visitors to the city over the course of 2013 – more than doubling previous years’ visitor numbers. Absolutely no reason why we can't see a similar level of success here.
Is this the first shoots of the locals putting the City down again. We really are our own worse enemy
