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<p>A number of the projects funded by the £40 million Discover England Fund, launched
by Government in 2016 and delivered by VisitEngland, are based in the West Midlands
and aim to support and increase visits and spend by international tourists to the
region through the provision of innovative, bookable itineraries and routes:</p><ul><li>The
England’s Waterways project encourages visitors to explore the region by narrowboat,
on bikes or on foot via its extensive network of canals and towpaths, and visit towns
and cities such as Coventry and Warwick.</li><li>The England Originals project provides
a range of multi-day rail itineraries starting in London that allow tourists to visit
historic cities across England; the itinerary Thinkers and Writers includes Worcester
and Stratford-upon-Avon.</li><li>The Experience England project is aimed at the millennial
market in China, GCC countries and India, providing itineraries spanning cities and
countryside that allow tourists to fly into one airport and out of another. One itinerary
brings tourists to Birmingham and attractions such as the Bullring and Cadbury World<p>
</p></li></ul><p>The region will also host two major arts and culture and sporting
events in the coming years:</p><ul><li>In 2021, Coventry will be the host city for
the UK City of Culture and in 2022 Birmingham will host the 22nd Commonwealth Games.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has and is continuing to support
bringing both events in the West Midlands and both are expected to increase international
interest and visitors.</li></ul><p><br> In the past three years, IPS data indicates
that inbound tourism to the West Midlands has hit new heights, welcoming 2.38 million
visitors in 2017 and 2.2 million in 2018. Last year these visitors spent £836 million,
a year-on-year increase of 4%.</p>
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