The awards honour the region's best places to stay, eat, visit and have a great day out.

Businesses in the region have until Wednesday, June 24, to enter a range of categories including the Outstanding Customer Service Award, Business Tourism of the Year Award and Taste of North East England.

All the regional winners will then go on to represent North East England in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.

Margaret Fay, chairwoman of One NorthEast, said: "The North East England Tourism Awards are a fantastic way of showing off what we have in this region and for the businesses to demonstrate they are the best of the best.

"Our region is home to some of the most wonderful tourism businesses in the UK and these awards offer them the opportunity they need to put themselves on the map."

To enter, download an application pack online at www.tourismnortheast.co.uk/tourismawards, call 01628 624 948 or email tourismawards.onenortheast@live-tourism.co.uk

Winners will be announced at The Hilton, NewcastleGateshead, on October 15.