Birmingham ranked top ten world city for visitors
BIRMINGHAM has been named among the top ten most exciting destinations to visit in 2015, in a list compiled by the travel guidebook series Rough Guides.
The city, which is the only UK location to have been selected by the publication’s travel editors, is joined by worldwide tourist destinations including New Orleans, Hamburg and Wellington.
Rough Guides selected Birmingham in its annual list for “embracing its industrial heritage”. The publication also notes that “with Birmingham New Street station reopening in 2015, this year is the ideal time to make a trip.”
Lottie Gross, from Rough Guides, said: “Every year, Rough Guides editors and authors get together to compile a list of the destinations they think will be best to visit in the next 12 months.
“From the vibrant Bull Ring markets to the fashionable creative quarter in Digbeth, Birmingham makes a worthy entry in the 2015 list for its cultural variety, excellent shopping and a buzzing live music scene that’s among the best in the UK.”
Emma Gray, director of marketing services at Visit Birmingham, the city’s official leisure tourism programme, said: “Birmingham’s inclusion in Rough Guides’ acclaimed shortlist is testament to the city’s increasing appeal as one of the most attractive places in the world to visit.
“The city’s global reputation continues to grow. As well as welcoming a record 34m people last year, Birmingham also attracted a 32% rise in international visitors – a greater increase than anywhere else in the UK.
“With a spectacular 2015 in store thanks to a number of exciting new developments and events, we look forward to offering even more to our visitors next year than ever before.”
