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Foster welcomes rise in overseas visitors to Northern Ireland

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster today welcomed new figures which show an increase in overseas visitors to Northern Ireland.
~ Thursday, 5 January 2012

The figures released today by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), for the first nine months of 2011, show that overseas visitors to Northern Ireland rose by 6% compared with January-September 2010.

They also show that overseas visitors spent an estimated £291million during the period, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year.

Arlene Foster said: “It is encouraging to be able to report a 6% increase in overseas visitors to Northern Ireland, coupled with an increase in revenue of 20% for the first nine months of 2011. Visitor numbers and revenue generated from trips by GB residents to Northern Ireland have also increased.

“This promising performance is very timely given the recent launch of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s NI2012 campaign, ‘Your Time, Our Place’ and momentum will increase as we move further into 2012.

“Tourism Ireland will also be rolling out a busy programme of promotional activity to target a range of potential visitors around the world in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and will be liaising ahead of the Games with VisitLondon and VisitBritain.”

Today’s figures also show that Northern Ireland residents took 1.5 million overnight trips within Northern Ireland, with an associated spend of £121 million. In the same period residents also took 1.8 million tourism day trips within Northern Ireland.

The Minister concluded: “The domestic market and the increasing popularity of the ‘staycation’ holiday is crucial to the long term sustainable growth of tourism in Northern Ireland.”

Notes to editors:

  1. Further details on the Northern Ireland Passenger Survey, domestic tourism survey and accommodation survey can be viewed on the DETI website.
  2. For press enquiries please contact DETI Press Office on tel: 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.