Noctourism refers to tourism activities and experiences that take place during the night, focusing on the exploration of destinations after dark, such as night tours, stargazing and night markets. Research conducted by booking.com indicated that over 60% of people surveyed were considering visiting destinations with limited light pollution to inch closer to the cosmos.

Northumberland is well positioned to offer this experience, with 572 square miles of the county being awarded Gold Tier status for its pristine dark skies and the International Dark Sky Park being the largest in the UK. With 28% of UK travellers expressing a desire to stargaze in a dark sky park (Skyscanner), this is a perfect opportunity to market Northumberland International Dark Sky Park as a more affordable and sustainable option for domestic visitors compared to Finland and Norway.

There are already several noctourism activities listed on our bookable experience platform, New Adventures, such as Northumberland Dark Skies Tour and Star Safaris. New Adventures is the perfect platform to advertise your noctourism experience or if you wish to collaborate with another business in the sector to create a new noctourism product or experience, please contact: simon@northernlatitude.co.uk to discuss further. If you are an accommodation provider, the dark skies and related activities can be highlighted as further reason to book a stay and help to convert day visits into overnight visits.

Neuroinclusivity refers to developing and designing an accessible and welcoming experience for people with neurodivergent conditions. This concept focuses on creating environments, services, and accommodation that consider the diverse needs of customers with neurodivergent conditions, ensuring they have a positive and inclusive experience.

Sobering stats show that almost half of neurodivergent travellers who took part in booking.com’s research have had a negative experience due to their needs, and 50% believe their travel options are limited due to a lack of inclusivity. There are simple steps you can follow to ensure everybody is welcome and join us on our mission for the North East to become the most accessible region in the UK. For example, providing noise-cancelling ear defenders to customers is an easy and effective way to offer accommodations. According to booking.com, 74% of those with neurological conditions are calling for more noise-cancelling options in airports and hotels.

To gain further insights into how you can make changes to your business to become more inclusive, sign up to Everybody Welcome for staff training, toolkits and a webinar series, here: Accessibility | Destination North East England

You can also access Visit England’s Accessible Tourism Toolkit for businesses, here: How To Make Your Business More Accessible | VisitBritain.org

UN tourism has reported that sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors, with an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023 and 2030. The trend sees tourists travelling to watch, participate in and enjoy experiences that are centred around sports. This can include attending major international tournaments, visiting famous sport landmarks or participating in recreational sports.

The region is already famed for The Great North Run, which attracted 60,000 runners in 2024, and St James’ Park, which hosted both the men's and women’s national football teams last year as well as regular Premier League fixtures.

Looking ahead, there are several exciting sporting events scheduled for 2025 that will be sure to attract thousands of visitors and help to boost the economy, such as the return of Magic Weekend at St James’ and the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Stadium of Light. The future of sport in the region is set to expand further as mayor, Kim McGuinness, is keen to harness the power of sport to help grow the visitor economy by leading the bid for the North East to be named as the UK’s first ‘Region of Sport’.

The wellness industry is predicted to thrive this year, with 31% of Brits expressing desire for a wellness retreat weekend in 2025 and searches for ‘wellness retreat holidays’ are up by 22%. We are entering the golden age of wellness tourism, where awareness and appreciation for health and longevity are at an all time high and products and experiences are being developed to meet this growing demand.

Visitors to the region can fully embrace wellness and mindfulness with a retreat and digital detox in the tranquil woodlands of Northumberland or a yoga wellness retreat day at one of our spas. Or for those getting started and wanting to dip their toes into the world of wellness, they can enjoy sunrise yoga at Tynemouth or take part in a North Sea dip, proven to have several health benefits.