You can "Go East" without leaving Newcastle!
Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies, today revealed research highlighting that while nearly a third (32%) of those living in Newcastle claim to travel East for its cuisine, almost two thirds (62%) remain reluctant to try local dishes when on holiday.
Back home however, we seem to be opening up to a taste of the East. Over half (51%) are now cooking and eating Eastern dishes – 10% doing so regularly - with Chinese (34%), Indian (33%), and Thai (10%) topping the list of favourites.
The research findings, revealed ahead of Emirates’ nationwide Go East Festival coming to Newcastle’s Centre for Life, Times Square, showed that as well as food, Geordies are attracted to the East for its culture (40%), weather (33%) and sights (23%) with the most iconic symbols of the East considered to be the Great Wall of China (32%), India’s Taj Mahal (18%) and the Egyptian Pyramids (15%).
Overall, almost two in five (38%) of those living in Newcastle have travelled to the East within the last year or plan to in the next 12 months. Emirates data shows that the most popular destinations from Glasgow are Dubai, Bangkok and Mauritius with Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and Thailand typically the fastest growing routes.
Laurie Berryman, Emirates Vice President, UK, said:
“We Brits are already fascinated by the East, particularly its food and culture, but our research indicates that people are perhaps in need of a little inspiration in order to make the most of the experiences on offer. As a region, the East is hugely diverse so it has something to offer everyone, from the temples of Cambodia to the Indonesian islands and skyscrapers of Singapore.
Our Go East Festival will give people a real taste of the East and we hope it inspires people to go and experience it for themselves.”
Emirates is hosting its very own Go East Festival which will visit each of Emirates’ five UK gateways - Manchester, London, Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham - across five consecutive weekends this summer.
The festival series is all set to be a feast for all the senses, celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of the cuisines and cultures of the East. Free to attend, the events will allow people to sample exotic street food dishes produced by local vendors and enjoy immersive entertainment and musical performances.
Details for the Emirates Go East Festival in Newcastle are as follows:
- When – Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June, 12pm-10pm Saturday & 12pm–8pm Sunday - Where – Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP
To find out more about the Emirates Go East festival and for further details of the event, please visit: emirates.com/HelloEast