A scheme to put Sussex on the tourist trail for visitors from the U.S. has been set up.

Sussex Enterprise is behind the innovative cross-border collaboration to attract tourists to the county, particularly from the lucrative U.S. holiday market.

The organisation has gained European funding from the Interreg II programme worth more than £150,000 to support the project.

London and Paris have always been top of the American traveller's wish-list of places to visit in Europe.

The new scheme aims to encourage U.S. visitors to Europe to make the most of the cultural corridor between the two popular capitals by spending time in Sussex and Normandy in Northern France.

The areas are being marketed as a joint package - breaking down the geographical boundaries to provide a unique insight to both England and France.

Sussex has been identified as an area offering artistic, gastronomic and sporting pursuits for tourists.

Marilyn Randall, of Sussex Arts Marketing, a partner of the new scheme, said: "Sussex offers a wealth of contemporary and historical cultural attractions.

"We are now seeing real interest in these from all international markets.

"It's great that tourism firms across the county can benefit from the inroads being made into the U.S. market through this latest project."

Sussex Enterprise has teamed up with the Tourism Department of Seine-Maritime in Normandy to appoint a representative to publicise Sussex directly to the U.S. tour operators.

The new expert will be based in New York, working alongside the Upper Normandy Tourist Board representative at the French Government Tourist Office.

This is the latest move in an ongoing collaboration between Sussex Enterprise and Normandy tourism officials to generate more overseas trade for the two regions.

Kathy Vuillaume, Interreg co-ordinator for Sussex Enterprise, said: "This project promotes the complementary strengths of the two regions as a single destination.

"The present generation of visitors from North America is keen to explore the real England and France beyond the capital cities and we want to take advantage of this new trend.

"This has never been attempted before and the European support is a powerful endorsement of our approach."

Sussex Enterprise is offering advice and support to Sussex firms with plans for attracting overseas tourists.

Companies and organisations wanting to find out more about the help available can contact Ross McNally, international tourism co-ordinator at Sussex Enterprise, on 01444 259259.