Foster welcomes UK tourism captains

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has told a gathering of industry professionals from a leading UK trade association that Northern Ireland is entering a period of significant opportunity for tourism.
~ Friday, 3 February 2012

The Minister was welcoming delegates from the UKInbound Convention, the most important trade body in the UK within the inbound tourism sector, to a reception in Parliament Buildings.

The convention, which takes place at the Europa Hotel, Belfast over 1–3 February, sees over 200 captains of the sector gather to discuss an array of issues ranging from airport capacity, transport infrastructure to airport passenger duty, the Olympics, security and the outlook for 2012.

It is the first time the influential organisation has held its convention in Belfast.

The Tourism Minister told delegates that Northern Ireland was entering an amazing year of opportunity with a range of high-profile events planned under the NI2012 Our Time, Our Place campaign.

Arlene Foster said: “The immediate future and the period ahead promises to be full of opportunities and in terms of tourism potential, the most significant in Northern Ireland’s history.

“Our market research tells us that in the next four years we have the opportunity to attract an additional 800,000 visitors, to generate an additional £140million in revenue and to create over 3,500 jobs.

“However, we want tourism to grow still further and my long-term vision is to drive the number of visitors up to 4.5 million, deliver up to 10,000 additional jobs right across Northern Ireland, and create a £1billion industry here by 2020.”

During their stay, the convention delegates visited Titanic Belfast, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, the Giant’s Causeway and Londonderry.

Welcoming the strong attendance at the annual UKinbound convention to Belfast, Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland’s chief executive, said: “Tourism Ireland is delighted to support this convention, particularly as UKinbound members are hugely influential in the world of travel; they are responsible for putting in place arrangements for holidaymakers to Great Britain and the island of Ireland from all over the world. The attendance of these travel industry professionals is a strong indication that interest in visiting Northern Ireland remains high and that we can, and are, competing with the best destinations in the world.

“Many of the delegates will take part in post-convention familiarisation visits around Northern Ireland – a fantastic opportunity to showcase our spectacular scenery and the wealth of things to see and do on a holiday here.”

Notes to editors:

1. The UKinbound convention includes the UKinbound awards ceremony, taking place at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.
2. The event was organised in partnership with Belfast Visitors Convention Bureau, Northern Ireland Tourism Board and Tourism Ireland. Its economic benefit to the city is in the region of £195,000.
3. For media enquiries contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9604. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.