NI Tourism Strategy In Focus

Tourism in Northern Ireland has been on the agenda this week with news that Stormont Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has met tourism leaders, business and public sector representatives to discuss future strategy.

The group has been established by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, in partnership with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, to lead the process and oversee the development of the strategy.

The Minister said: "The aim of the new tourism strategy for Northern Ireland will be to provide a clear and inspiring vision with an action plan for the development of Northern Ireland's tourism experience through to the year 2020.

"Tourism has a vital role to play in Northern Ireland’s future. Already the industry has established itself as a major component of our economy, however we are not yet fulfilling our potential.

"We have a real opportunity to make Northern Ireland a leading destination for business and leisure visitors," she said.

Tourist Board Chairman, hotelier Howard Hastings (pictured here with the Minister) said: "Much has changed since 2004 with the massive growth of low cost carriers, an increasingly competitive global market place, the continued stability of our political process and the state of the global economy.

"It is also important that we continue to focus on developing infrastructure, the need for improvements to service and standards, continued skills development and targeted marketing strategies in our closer to home markets.

"This can only be achieved through partnership and a coordinated approach across all organisations with responsibilities for tourism. However it is much bigger than that, it is essential that everyone across Northern Ireland sees their own role in tourism and providing our visitors with the best possible experience," he said, noting that a draft strategy is expected to be published for consultation in the summer of 2009.

(BMcC/JM)