Major events can play a crucial role in boosting tourism and the importance is already recognised in the region. A high quality events programme and Major Events Strategy has been created to establish events of international and national significance, which will build on existing successes and secure new events.

Major events will attract more business and leisure visitors to the region, help to tackle negative perceptions and highlight the region’s assets. The 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and Liverpool’s success as the European Capital of Culture in 2008 has helped to improve, not just the image of the host cities, but of the wider Northwest.