Highlights some of the problems DTVA faces - it's main role as an airport is to act as "the gateway for the region" (which is why the councils are so keen). Business travels don't want lots of facilities but want them done well (and are probably the lowest spenders).
Many leisure travellers want the "airport experience", a drink, a meal, some shopping (I'll always remember the work colleague who said to me "the holiday hasn't started till I've bought a new handbag!") - although this lot spend more, DTVA has never had the throughput to justify the expenditure to provide the facilities.
As an aside, travelling with my non-aviation interested son through several European airports recently he commented that at most of them you could be anywhere, but Newcastle clearly promoted itself as being in the North East of England