NORTHUMBERLAND National Park will receive a share of £1m to encourage more visitors from around the world to the area.

The national park authority has joined forces with England’s nine other national parks to secure the cash from the Discover England Fund.

The project, which is called “Make great memories in England’s national parks,” is a two- year scheme which will deliver a collection of visitor experiences, business support and trade marketing strategies to develop bookable tourism products in England’s national parks.

It will deliver different experiences for each national park to highlight its own distinctive nature and assets.

The fund is administered by VisitEngland, which is working on a programme of activities to ensure England stays competitive in the rapidly-growing global tourism industry.

It is a Government- funded programme, supported by match funding partners in the public and private sectors.

Chief executive of Northumberland National Park Authority, Tony Gates, welcomed the announcement.

He said: “Visit England’s Discover England Fund gives us an exciting opportunity to showcase the special qualities of Northumberland and our wider national park family to a broader international market.

“Our national park communities are part of English culture, passing down unique traditions from generation to generation.

“This programme will be instrumental in promoting England’s national parks to new audiences, whilst helping us to continue growing global support for the enjoyment and care of these unique living landscapes and the rural communities within them.”

The project is one of a number of schemes to receive funding from the Government’s £40m Discover England Fund.

“Make great memories in England’s national parks” will be marketed to travel trade partners and a range of trade missions and travel shows.