Ambitious Tourism Growth Plan Unveiled

Visit Belfast has unveiled ambitious new plans to continue to drive tourism growth, which it hopes will "rapidly increase its value and return to the local economy".

Unveiling its strategy and plans for 2015-18, Visit Belfast has committed to delivering rapid growth in the number of leisure and business visitors staying overnight, and to lever a greater uplift in revenues generated by tourism for the local economy.

At a tourism industry event held at Belfast City Hall attended by the Lord Mayor, key tourism stakeholders, partners, funders and private sector members, Visit Belfast's Chief Executive, Gerry Lennon, said the agency would work hard with its partners to extend the city's year-round appeal and to further improving their visitor experience.

Mr Lennon, said: "Last year, we saw record levels of hotel occupancy in Belfast, which is testament to the partnerships in place to promote the city both in the UK, Ireland and overseas, and this clearly validates that Belfast has become one of the world's leading tourist destinations.

"As an organisation, we are pleased to have delivered on our commitments for 2014, meeting and exceeding our own challenging targets and ensuring this exciting, vibrant and forward-looking city continues to achieve its tourism potential.

"International tourism is a growth industry but the global marketplace is getting tougher as cities and countries emerge. Belfast is outperforming others in terms of growth and we can continue to do that with the right focus, priorities, investment and activity.

"Visit Belfast, its funders, partners, stakeholders and members, look forward to delivering that continued success, to rapidly increasing the impact of tourism on the local economy and to ensuring we play a significant part in the goal to create a £1 billion tourism industry in Northern Ireland by 2020."

(MH)