Last updated 11:45, Saturday, 10 May 2008

A PRESS campaign to attract tourists to Cumbria has been launched.

• Weblink: Hadrian's Wall Country website

Roman around: Hadrian’s Wall is being promoted

Today’s edition of The Times will carry a specially designed supplement promoting Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall Country, targeting its 1.2 million readers.

There will also be an advert in Enjoy England, a newsletter sent to around 460,000 people.

This will be followed by a regional Daily Telegraph magazine insert to be included in the May 31 edition.

Hadrian's Wall Heritage, Cumbria Tourism, and Carlisle City Council are funding the campaign.

The Times supplement focuses on both Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall Country, both past and present and includes Carlisle’s key attractions – and describes how the city is undergoing a renaissance.

Carlisle city councillor Marilyn Bowman, for economic development and enterprise, said: “With support from Carlisle Renaissance, the North West Regional Development Agency and other partners we have put in place a comprehensive tourism campaign that we hope will increase the number of visitors to the area.

“We want to celebrate Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall Country and encourage visitors to enjoy the area’s key attractions.

“The campaign represents a major step forward in terms of significantly raising the profile of the city as an attractive visitor destination and vibrant regional city, and importantly too, generating a significant number of leads for the 2008 Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall Country Holiday Guide.”

Linda Tuttiett, chief executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be working with Carlisle City Council on this marketing initiative, which will bring Carlisle and its Roman heritage to the attention of a national audience.

“Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd is also running a major advertising campaign this summer to tie in with the Hadrian exhibition at the British Museum.”

Carlisle Renaissance, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, Cumbria Tourism and Enjoy England have funded the spring marketing campaign.