WORLD LEADER; For the adventurous world traveller, the North East has been named as one of 30 places to be. GARETH DEIGHAN looks at how our region made Lonely Planet's must-see list for 2008

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 17, 2007

Byline: GARETH DEIGHAN

TRAVEL guidebook Lonely Planet's Bluelist, drawn up every year, is said to capture the best in travel experiences for the coming year from around the world.

And the North East has made it onto the list, alongside Eritrea in Africa and Damascus in Syria.

The guide describes the North East as "the most exciting, beautiful and friendly region in the whole of England," and pinpoints rejuvenated cities, fascinating history and the dramatic Northumberland wilderness among its trump cards.

Travel information manager at Lonely Planet Tom Hall said: "This book is sold all over the world and it is created by people who travel the world and see what other cities and areas are like.

"There was a time when people would come to England and go to Oxford or Edinburgh. They would miss out places like Durham and Durham Cathedral and not even know about the Northumberland coast, which is some of the most beautiful and accessible of anywhere in the world.

"We want people to come off the beaten track a little bit. Maybe go to the North East instead of the Lake District.

"We recognise the massive amount of regeneration and the increased overseas visitors and we want to tell people about it.

It is a brilliant, vibrant place that has some of the best of everything within it and we want more people to experience it for themselves.

"It is very much a compliment to be mentioned."

However in May this year, Tyneside got a mixed review in the Lonely Planet's Guide to Britain.

The guide commented that Newcastle in particular was notable for its "impenetrable dialect" and "wild and crazy nightlife" though the guide did add there was "a new-found sophistication" about the place.

It went on to say most people wouldn't even know where Gateshead was and that, though Durham was commended for its "resplendent glory", its university's academic reputation and cathedral, entertainment was limited to walking its cobbled streets and visiting the cathedral.

Northumberland's towns, though, were praised. If briefly. Hex-ham was described as "handsome" and Haltwhis-tle "as a good spot to load up on gear and groceries".

Mr Hall said any quirks of the region only added to the attraction.

He said: "The Bluelist is born from Lonely Planet writers and staff getting together and talking about the places they have been and seen and whether they enjoyed them.

"A trip to the North East is certainly not a forgettable experience and yes, there might be one or two impenetrable accents, or it might be a little in-your-face at a football match, but that is part of it - part of why it is a must-see, part of why people enjoy going there."

And Tania Robinson, head of marketing at regional development agency One NorthEast, agreed.

She said: "Being named as one of the 30 must-see destinations for 2008 confirms that the North East is a truly world-class destination."

The Lonely Planet Bluelist is out on Thursday.

CAPTION(S):

GLOBAL VIEW: Damascus and, below, Bamburgh Castle at dawn MAIN PICTURE: DOUG HALL; VIBRANT PLACE: Lonely Planet's Tom Hall; ANOTHER WORLD: Fez in Morocco is in the Bluelist; IN THE FRAME: Australia's Tiwi islands are there too