The North-East launched a charm offensive this week to promote itself to Italy, following the start of daily flights to and from Rome.
To coincide with the Ryanair flights, from Durham Tees Valley Airport, which began last month, the airport teamed up with local tourist boards to bring a group of Italian journalists to the region.
During their three-day stay, the journalists visited some of the region's beauty spots, including Whitby, North Yorkshire, Durham Cathedral and Raby Castle, near Staindrop, County Durham.
Yesterday, they went to a centre at Leven, near Yarm, which provides off-road driving courses in military vehicles. They also tried clay-pigeon shooting.
Francesco Cerqua, of the Rome daily, Il Tempo, said: "This feels like the real England. The people are very warm and there is a great deal of history."
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