Foster to launch Northern Ireland tourism showcase in New York

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster today unveiled details of a major showcase for Northern Ireland tourism, in New York’s Grand Central Terminal, later this month.

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster along with the Culture Arts and Leisure Minister, Nelson McCausland, will travel to New York for the opening of a week-long celebration entitled ‘EXPERIENCE Northern Ireland – TITANIC & MORE’. Arlene Foster will also meet with leading American business tourism contacts and promote investment opportunities.

The exhibition, from 24 to 29 September, has been organised by Tourism Ireland in association with National Museums Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau. It will be attended by leading airlines, travel trade, media and corporate contacts from the New York and tri-state area.

The showcase forms part of a Tourism Ireland three-year programme to raise awareness of Northern Ireland and its Titanic heritage in New York. The centrepiece of the event will be a Titanic exhibition, featuring a replica hull of Belfast’s most famous ship, including interactive storyboards and screens as well as illustrated talks and guides.

Speaking in advance of the exhibition, the Tourism Minister said: “Millions of New York commuters and visitors to the city will get a taste of what Northern Ireland has to offer as a unique and vibrant tourism and business tourism destination. The exhibition will showcase the very best of Northern Ireland culture, music, entertainment and food.”

The exhibition will be a packed schedule of events, featuring top Northern Ireland performers with more than 50 partners attending, including top chefs, musicians, craft workers and tour guides.

Arlene Foster added: “Tourism is now one of the most important indigenous industries in Northern Ireland and plays a chief role in our export economy. In the period 2002-2009, overseas tourism contributed over £2.1billion to the economy of Northern Ireland. During the current difficult economic period Tourism Ireland has embarked on a specific Northern Ireland marketing programme highlighting gateway cities with direct access, such as New York.”

Musical entertainment will be provided by Peter Corry, Kintra, Kabosh, the McPeake Family and others. Food will feature strongly as acclaimed chefs Noel McMeel and Neven Maguire will bring the best of Northern Ireland culinary expertise to New Yorkers. There will also be a full programme of lectures, story-telling and other performances highlighting the many aspects of our unique Northern Ireland culture. Representatives of the tourism industry will bring the different counties of Northern Ireland to life for visitors to the exhibition.

Culture and Arts Minister Nelson McCausland added: “This celebration includes many unique aspects of Northern Ireland culture and I hope that millions of New Yorkers, as well as visitors to this great city, will get a flavour of the real Northern Ireland as they pass through Vanderbilt Hall.

“The exhibition presents a marvellous opportunity to showcase the very best of what Northern Ireland has to offer visitors. People all around the world know something of the story of Titanic whose centenary we will celebrate in 2012.

"Less well known is the fact that Belfast was the birthplace of Titanic and of a great many other ships of that era. The design and building of the iconic liner confirmed Northern Ireland as a world leader in manufacturing and engineering.

“Today Northern Ireland is establishing a global reputation based on creativity and innovation. Our vibrant arts, music and film sectors together with a range of cultural and leisure offerings provide interesting opportunities for visitors and investors.”

Commenting on the potential of the exhibition to bring Northern Ireland to the attention of a huge audience in New York, Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “With up to 750,000 commuters passing through Grand Central Station each day, this event is a fantastic opportunity for Tourism Ireland and our partners to promote Northern Ireland as a world-class tourism and business tourism destination in the major gateway city of New York. In the run-up to 2012, Tourism Ireland is planning an extensive series of promotional events to keep Belfast, Northern Ireland and Titanic in the international spotlight and to encourage Americans – and other overseas visitors – to come and see where the whole story started.”

Tourism Ireland is currently developing a dedicated Titanic website to profile Northern Ireland and its shipbuilding heritage. Central to the website will be a series of short films which will be used for online campaigns and on popular social networking sites. The films will recount different aspects of the Titanic story in the run-up to 2012. The website will be launched at the September event in New York.

The ‘EXPERIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND - TITANIC & MORE’ exhibition takes place 24-29 September, in the Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Terminal, in New York.

Note to editors:

1. Strategic Partners are:

• National Museums Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Tourist Board
• Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Belfast International Airport
• Continental Airlines

2. Industry representatives include:

• Ballydougan Mill
• National Trust
• Causeway Coast & Glens
• Derry City Tours
• Titanic Tours
• Share Centre
• Airporter
• Federation of Private Transport Operators
• Hastings Hotels
• Hilden Brewery
• HINI
• B&B Ireland
• Manor House Hotels
• Ulsterbus Tours
• Drenagh Farms
• Titanic Foundation Ltd

3. For media enquiries please contact DETI Press Office, 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.