01/12/2011

Snow Patrol Tunes Into NI Tourism Boost

The NI Tourism Minister Arlene Foster is going 'pop' and has unveiled plans to increase the number of overseas holidaymakers with support from rock band Snow Patrol.

The Co Down group will feature in a new campaign aimed at boosting tourism to NI by 20% in 2012.

The new TV advertisement with the tagline 'Jump to Northern Ireland' is set to new music from Snow Patrol with Tourism Ireland hoping to build on a successful 2011 with the MTV EMA Awards in Belfast and also the high profile wins of golfers Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.

The TV advertisements, to be screened in January to feature a track from Snow Patrol's latest album and additional radio, press, cinema and online advertising means the campaign will target 22 markets around the world with an estimated annual audience of 60million potential visitors.

Arlene Foster said: "Tourism Ireland is planning the most extensive programme of marketing activity and campaigns ever undertaken for Northern Ireland, and there has never been a better time to do so than in 2012.

"It is the year when Northern Ireland will take centre stage with new, iconic visitor attractions, unprecedented events and historic anniversaries.

"NI 2012 offers a unique opportunity to change perceptions and confidently put Northern Ireland on the global tourism map - and the signs are already encouraging.

"Statistics for the first six months of 2011 show an 11% increase in visitors from overseas with growth from all major markets, including the very important GB market.

"We must continue to capitalise on NI 2012 by maximising visitor numbers and ensuring that the momentum created by its positive legacy, and the associated growth in tourism, continues well beyond next year," she said.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: "2011 has seen significant growth in overseas tourism in the first six months and visitor numbers are forecast to reach 1.51 million for the year, a 6% increase on 2010."

Tourism Ireland's targets could see Northern Ireland welcoming 1.66 million overseas visitors in 2012; representing growth in total visitors of 10% and 20% in holidaymakers.

The DUP Executive Minister Arlene Foster concluded: "Belfast has already been voted one of the world's Top 20 best places to visit next year by National Geographic's 'Traveller' magazine and I have no doubt Northern Ireland will continue to achieve top billing as the exciting programme of events unfolds in the coming months."

(BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

03 April 2019
Networking Event To Develop Causeway Coast Tourism Experiences
A speed networking event is set to bring together all four Causeway Coastal Route (CCR) clusters to introduce their respective tourism products. Businesses will have one to one exchanges, each lasting five minutes, in a bid to foster collaborative initiatives and help entrepreneurs identify more opportunities for tourism experiences.
08 October 2019
Belfast Secures International Conference
Some 120 international buyers will meet in Belfast next Spring for a prestigious conference that's set to boost the local tourism economy. HelmsBriscoe will hold its European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) Regional Meeting in the city next March, a conference that last year secured a total of 1.27 billion dollars in meetings revenue worldwide.
30 April 2019
First Golf Tourism Convention Held In NI
Twenty seven golf tour buyers from International markets are currently in Northern Ireland to take part in the region's first ever Golf Tourism Convention.
02 October 2018
Belfast Named 'Best Events Destination' At Conference Awards
Belfast has been named the Best Events Destination, with ICC Belfast – formerly Belfast Waterfront – named Best Venue at the Conference and Incentive Travel magazine (C&IT) Awards in London on Friday 21 September 2018.
07 March 2003
NI tourism industry celebrates silver awards
Around 380 members of the tourism industry and guests gathered last night in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards and to applaud the winners of the 2002 competition.