Decline in ‘holiday’ tourism
Tourism Minister Arlene Foster is pictured with Katy Best and Duncan McCausland, new appointees to the Board of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Also pictured is NITB Chairman, Howard Hastings.
HOLIDAY business in Northern Ireland is down 12 per cent, the head of the Tourist Board has said.
The anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and the opening of the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre will be key to recovery this year, chief executive Alan Clarke added.
Visits from friends and family and business trips contributed to an overall six per cent increase in the numbers from Great Britain and overseas. The market for domestic tourism has also improved.
Mr Clarke told Stormont’s enterprise, trade and investment committee: “If we are looking for any slight disappointment it is the fact that holiday business is down 12 per cent and again that is why those new products coming onstream like the Titanic and Causeway are key to that.
“Northern Ireland has traditionally done well from visiting friends and families, traditionally done well from business visitors, although that is a reflection of the overall economy, but the one area that we need to grow and get better at is our holiday segment.”
About 30 per cent of visitors here are on holiday compared to 45 per cent in the Republic.
“That is where the growth potential is,” Mr Clarke added.
Earlier this month Tourism Minister Arlene Foster announced that the number of overseas visitors increased by six per cent in the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of the previous year. The figures also show that overseas visitors spent an estimated £291 million during the period.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
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