'I’ve always believed that stories help us understand places and people': Blue Lights star shines a light on Northern Ireland tour guiding milestone

Northern Ireland’s professional tour guiding body Tour Guides NI (TGNI) is marking its 10th anniversary with the appointment of Declan Lawn, co-creator of BBC drama Blue Lights, as its first Honorary President.

The award-winning writer, director and journalist will act as an ambassador and advisory figurehead for the organisation, which was established in 2016 to raise standards in tour guiding across Northern Ireland through professional accreditation and regulation.

Since its formation, TGNI has grown from 35 members to more than 160, all holding an accredited, Ofqual-regulated qualification in tour guiding.

Chairman Donal Kelly said the anniversary marked a significant milestone for an organisation which has played an important role in enhancing the visitor experience across Northern Ireland.

“Ten years ago, our founders had a simple ambition – to create an organisation that would champion professionalism, excellence and opportunity within the tour guiding sector,” he said.

“Today, we have over 160 members who proudly represent Northern Ireland to visitors from all over the world.

“Whether they are welcoming cruise passengers arriving in Belfast, showcasing our heritage, sharing local stories or guiding visitors through our cities and countryside, our members play a vital role in creating memorable experiences and positive impressions of Northern Ireland.”

The anniversary comes as Northern Ireland’s tourism industry continues to grow, with Belfast strengthening its position as a major cruise destination.

The number of cruise calls at Belfast has increased from 81, bringing 145,000 visitors in 2016, to more than 140 calls and approximately 300,000 visitors in 2026.

Declan Lawn’s appointment also comes amid growing international interest in Northern Ireland as a screen tourism destination, fuelled by productions including Blue Lights, Game of Thrones, Derry Girls and Line of Duty.

Accepting the role, Declan said: “I am honoured to accept the role of Honorary President and look forward to supporting Tour Guides NI as it enters its second decade.

“I’ve always believed that stories help us understand places and people - and nowhere is that more true than in Northern Ireland. Tour guides are among our most important storytellers and ambassadors. They help visitors experience the richness of our history, culture and identity in a way that is personal, authentic and memorable.

“As interest in Northern Ireland continues to grow, whether through television, film, literature or tourism, guides have an increasingly important role to play in helping visitors connect with the places they are exploring.

“Through the success of Blue Lights, I feel proud and privileged to have had an opportunity to play my own small part in promoting Northern Ireland and I relish the opportunity to build on that through my new role as Honorary President of TGNI.”

He said the success of Blue Lights had given him an opportunity to play a part in promoting Northern Ireland and that he looked forward to building on this through his new role.

Mr Kelly said Declan was the ideal choice for the position, adding that his work had helped showcase modern Northern Ireland to audiences around the world.

“Screen tourism is becoming an increasingly important part of the visitor economy, and guides have an essential role to play,” he added.

“Visitors want to discover the places they’ve seen on screen, but they also want to understand the history, culture and communities behind those locations.”

Over the past decade, TGNI has worked with colleges, tourism bodies, councils and industry partners to develop and promote professional guiding.

With support from organisations including Belfast Harbour, Visit Belfast, OCN NI, National Museums NI and local councils, it has expanded accredited guiding qualifications, helped establish Level 4 guiding within the national framework and delivered an ongoing programme of professional development.

The organisation also navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and recently achieved charitable status, marking another milestone in its development.