Foster promotes Northern Ireland tourism in Berlin

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster promoted Northern Ireland as a business and leisure destination at the ITB Berlin travel show, in Germany, today.

ITB Berlin, which runs from 11 to 15 March 2009, is an annual world-wide travel show, which attracts over 180,000 visitors, each year.

The Minister met a number of representatives of the Northern Ireland tourism industry on Tourism Ireland’s exhibition stand. These included Countrywide Hotels, representing a range of Northern Ireland hotels, the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau and Aer Lingus, which was promoting its direct air link between Munich and Belfast.

Addressing a gathered audience of tourism industry representatives and European media, the Minister said: “Germany is a very important European market for Northern Ireland tourism. Despite the economic recession, we must work towards building on the success of 2007 which saw the number of German visitors to Northern Ireland, increase by 46% to 59,000.

“In 2009, Tourism Ireland plans to increase its investment in marketing and advertising of Northern Ireland in Germany. We must highlight the opportunities offered by the sterling exchange rate and promote Northern Ireland as a quality holiday destination with vibrant cities, first class hotels and superb leisure facilities.

“There is also a great deal of interest in Northern Ireland as a business tourism destination and Tourism Ireland will continue to promote Northern Ireland as offering excellent conference and business facilities.”

The Minister also met the representatives from DERTOUR and Wolters Reisen, two of the largest tour operators in Germany, to encourage their promotion of Northern Ireland as a holiday destination.

Notes to Editors:

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