NI tourist figure closes in on 2m mark

Close to two million people visited Northern Ireland last year, new figures have revealed.

According to Tourism and Hospitality Consultants, ASM Horwath, who today launched their annual hotel industry survey, 1.95 million visitors arrived in Northern Ireland in 2003, an increase of 6.2%.

Other key headlines from the comprehensive survey included:

• the number of bedrooms available to the Northern Ireland marketplace in 2003 increased by 2.5% to 5,837;
• the average bedroom occupancy rate, at 57.1%, was higher than the 2002 rate of 54.1%;
• the average bedroom letting rate of £49.37, was 4% lower than 2002; and
• average pre-tax profits fell by 8%.

Commenting on the survey, Michael Williamson, Senior Consultant, ASM Horwath said: “Northern Ireland hotel performance demonstrated solid progress in 2003. Against the backdrop of increasing visitor numbers, demand for hotel accommodation increased by three percentage points over 2002.

"In driving forward tourism, we should acknowledge the good work that has been undertaken by the bodies responsible for tourism development in Northern Ireland. In a competitive and image conscious global marketplace, their efforts are delivering tangible growth for the local industry.

"With an eye to the immediate future, the expanded and improved travel linkages with Continental Europe offer the prospect of new market opportunities. On balance, the outlook can only be described as positive."

The Horwath hotel survey, considered to be the definitive publication in its field, reports the hotel industry’s performance in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland during 2003.

(MB)