Package tours put Bolton in spotlight

Sir David Trippier, chairman of Marketing Manchester, said today that Bolton would be included in the itinerary when the Atlanta party comes to Greater Manchester in June or July and when a similar party of about 20 business representatives arrives from Alabama in the autumn.

The visits follow Sir David's early efforts as a globe-trotting knight on behalf of Marketing Manchester.

The new agency - a private and public sector partnership with a first year budget of £2.5 million - is campaigning to establish Greater Manchester on the world stage by 2005.

Earlier this year Sir David pledged that Bolton would not be forgotten after fears in the town that the whole exercise would concentrate entirely on Manchester. He said today that he would expect Bolton Council, the Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce and INWARD to be involved when details of the visit were being worked out by Marketing Manchester.

Sir David, who gave the Bolton Business Lecture in July, has also been to Chicago on a trade and cultural mission organised jointly by Marketing Manchester and Manchester Airport, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of American Airlines' successful Manchester-Chicago service.

Eight Chicago companies already have UK headquarters in the Manchester area and Sir David believes another one is interested following the visit.

There was no reason why Bolton should not be a part of the Manchester package from now on when foreign visitors came to see what was on offer.

Sir David has also been beating the drum for the region at a major world tourism conference in Indonesia.

A shot of Bolton Town Hall was among the slides he showed to delegates.

David Wilmot, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, has approved the secondment of an officer at Inspector level to work with Marketing Manchester, initially for a year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.