'Find Your Belfast This Christmas' Campaign Launched

Organisations from across Belfast have joined forces for a new festive marketing campaign, aimed at highlighting the city's best shopping, restaurants, pubs, cafes and the "must visit" Christmas Market.

The 'Find Your Belfast this Christmas' initiative is a fully integrated marketing campaign which invites consumers to act and discover the city for themselves.

Targeting both day and overnight visitors from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the campaign incorporates a comprehensive range of local and national online, broadcast and print elements.

There is also an innovative programme of digital and social media activity, video content, PR and media relations, including a SnapChat geofilter, which will be available in the area around the Christmas Market, allowing people to quickly share festive moments online.

The marketing activity is part of an ongoing investment from Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast and partners including Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Belfast One, Victoria Square and CastleCourt shopping centres, Translink and Hastings Hotels and is aimed at generating additional visitor numbers and increased tourism in the run-up to Christmas and over the New Year.

Announcing the new campaign, Lord Mayor Alderman Brian Kingston, said: "Belfast is a city going from strength to strength. Continued commitment to investing in tourism infrastructure from both the public and private sectors has given us a strong retail and hospitality offering that can compete with the best.

"Not only is Christmas one of the busiest, best and most magical times to visit Belfast, it's a crucial period in the city's economic calendar. The 'Find Your Belfast this Christmas' campaign encourages everyone to jump right in and enjoy everything the city has to offer."

Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive of Visit Belfast added: "Belfast is ready for its best Christmas yet and we're delighted to deliver a partnership campaign which will drive visitors to the city. Many retailers will generate as much as one third of their annual income during the Christmas season, so our role at Visit Belfast is to coordinate marketing for the city, maximising impact and generating some 200,000 trips to the city over Christmas."

(MH)