Everton shoppers lured to Swansea Bay

Hundreds of thousands of people will be greeted with striking images of Swansea Bay as they walk along one of the UK's busiest shopping streets.

Three Cliffs Bay, Gower Peninsula

Posters showing Swansea Bay's award-winning mix of city and sea have been put up at key locations on Liverpool's Lord Street in the countdown to Everton's Premier League visit to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday (September 22).

Lord Street runs for about 300 metres and is within touching distance of Liverpool One – the UK's largest open air shopping centre.

Swansea Council has also put up Swansea Bay promotional posters in bus shelters and phone booths in other key locations across the city.

Cllr Nick Bradley, the Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "The Premier League is a big deal for both the Swans and Swansea Bay as an area. It means people across the world have now heard of Swansea, and that gives us a fantastic opportunity to market Swansea Bay as a visitor destination off the back of the football.

"Hundreds of Liverpudlians spent time here last season as fans of both Everton and Liverpool. We hope many will return this year and that new visitors from Liverpool will make the trip too. This is why we're targeting busy parts of Liverpool with eye-catching promotional images of the destination. The aim is that it will heighten the profile of Swansea Bay and benefit local tourism businesses here by attracting visitors.

"Liverpool and the north west is a key market for us because they're among the most dedicated football fans in the UK. We had some really positive feedback from their visits last season."

Swansea Council's tourism team has already attracted journalists working for Soccer AM, the Daily Mirror and the Sunderland Echo to Swansea Bay so far this season.

Everton online supporter forums have also been contacted through social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.

Information on things to do in Swansea Bay in autumn have been sent to existing and new contacts across the northwest of England. Potential visitors are then encouraged to receive monthly e-newsletters to keep them updated with special offers and events.