Birmingham Airport could soon be known as 'Shakespeare's Airport' in the U.S. in order to attract more visitors, tourism chiefs have announced. The concept was put forward after proving a success in attracting more people from China, but there are concerns that not enough Americans will know of the famous playwright. The airport could also be called 'Birmingham London' as the HS2 rail link will make the hub just 38 minutes from the centre of the capital - only ten minutes further away than Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Birmingham Airport could be rebranded 'Shakespeare's Airport' in the U.S. to attract more tourists, but there are concerns that not enough Americans will know who the playwright is . Chief executive Paul Kehoe said: 'The reason we used Shakespeare for the Chinese is there is a lot of interest there. 'When the Chinese Premier came here, he wanted to see the RSC and he said to us through an interpreter that Shakespeare was very big in China and we should make the most of it. 'We are still debating it. Personally, I think Shakespeare is still right for America. 'The average person in Chattanooga may not enjoy much Shakespeare but the sophisticates on the east and west coast do.' A similar rebranding in China has attracted thousands of tourists to Birmingham by advertising its proximity to Shakespeare's place of birth . Birmingham Airport announced in March it would be re-branding in China as it revealed a run of flights to Beijing. Hainan Airlines is to operate two flights a week between July 3 and August 28, expected to pave the way for a regular service. The flights are set to carry almost 4,000 Chinese tourists to the UK and follow a trial last year saw three flights between the cities. Mr Kehoe said there was competition in the Far East for the flights and was hopeful it could lead to scheduled operations directly from the city to China. Meanwhile, he said hopes of using Shakespeare to promote the region in the US were long-held. He adde: 'People tell me nobody has heard of Shakespeare in America but I don't believe that. 'When I started in 2008, I said "How do we get to the chocolate-eating, 4x4 driving Shakespeare-loving people of Idaho?" 'We have Cadbury, Shakespeare and Land Rover here, so there is no shortage of options.' Meanwhile, Mr Kehoe said the HS2 station near the airport would be so convenient for the capital it would rival the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. He said this could raise questions over whether 'London' should be added to the airport's name. Mr Kehoe accepted the capital was always going to be a major draw for tourists but added: 'The day HS2 opens, this airport effectively moves 70 miles closer to London. 'My successor will have to ask themselves: "What do we call this airport now?" We will only be 10 minutes further than terminal five. Does that make it a London airport?'
Airport bosses say re-branding in China has already brought more tourists.
If HS2 is built the hub could also be renamed 'Birmingham London Airport'
London would be 38 minutes away, ten minutes further than Heathrow.