Marketing Gloucester has become one of 13 destination partners to make a successful bid for a £500,000 grant from VisitEngland to develop a range of experiences for the US tourism market.

The Connections project led by Destination Plymouth, will produce a series of new, immersive, bookable English-themed visitor experiences specifically for the American market, encouraging visitors to explore England beyond London.

The experiences will aim to tap in to the fascination of the many connections between England and America - a shared history, language, culture and ancestry.

It is hoped it will inspire many visitors to discover their roots and the authenticity of local English culture.

Connections is one of a number of successful projects to receive funding from the UK Government's £40 million Discover England Fund.

The aim is to ensure that England stays competitive in the rapidly growing global tourism industry, by offering world-class English tourism products to the right customers at the right time.

VisitEngland chief executive, Sally Balcombe, said: "The calibre of submissions to the Discover England Fund reflects the innovation in product development thriving across the country's tourism landscape.

"The successful projects will boost international and domestic visitor growth creating a step-change in the industry and spreading the economic benefits of tourism across England. Our research shows that many US visitors come to Britain due to historic family connections and these ancestry themed itineraries will inspire them to explore more of regional England."

A large-scale collaboration between the 13 destinations, Connections will develop tourism products in the lead up to 2020, the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's historic voyage from Plymouth to the New World.

Gloucester, Bristol, Cambridge, Cornwall, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Plymouth, Torbay and Worcestershire will look into themes with significant appeal to US visitors.

These include Magna Carta and the rule of law, The Mayflower, Virginia and early American colonisation, WW2, US military and the 'special relationship' between the UK and the USA.

The project also aims to showcase the best of England's culture and heritage through the development of a broad range of specialist guided tours and behind the scenes experiences and will be sold in the US via tour operators and travel agents.

There were 2.9 million overseas visits to the UK from January to July this year from North America alone, an increase of 21 per cent on the same period last year.

Punchline welcomes the important part Gloucester will play in this new initiative to attract visitors from the USA as we approach the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage. Tourism and the hospitality sector are increasingly important to our economy and as a county we have much to show our American visitors.

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk