2,500 Jobs From NI Historic Assets

2,500 additional jobs could be created from Northern Ireland's historic assets.

This was the message from Environment Minister Alex Attwood as he prepares to address "key influencers" today at a heritage economic summit in Belfast City Hall.

Attendees will include representatives from the CBI, tourism, architecture and heritage sectors and central and local government.

Minister Atwood said that, with greater efforts, the number of jobs could rise to 5,000.

The Minister said the built environment currently generates £530m for the NI economy and provides 10,000 jobs, but has the potential for this to increase by 50%.

Alex Attwood said: "Since becoming Minister, I recognised that the historic environment was not reaching its full economic potential. DOE commissioned a 'Study of the Economic Value of Northern Ireland’s Historic Environment' to frame new opportunities. The summit today will help determine how we, collectively, can take this forward.

"Our historic environment generates an annual output of half a billion and sustains 10,000 jobs. We can generate more. The equivalent figures for Wales are £1,837m output and 30,000 jobs. In the Republic, €1.5bn in annual national wealth and 37,000 jobs so we can realise far more from our unique assets.

"The economic study was an important further step in escalating the role of the historic environment, as a big part of the character of our lives, the value of our heritage and the potential for jobs. We need to act with ambition. I am currently testing how to best utilise our heritage assets – the plan to develop the buried village around Dunluce Castle – a piece of our own Pompeii – in heritage and tourist terms and developing work around Carrickfergus Castle are two representative examples."

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Tourist Board said: "I very much welcome this heritage economic summit as our tourism offering is centred on what is unique about Northern Ireland, including our stories. Well developed heritage assets are key to this, and to growing our tourism economy."

(IT/MH)