Belfast’s first ‘Duck Boat’ tour officially launched

The Department for Social Development today launched Belfast’s first ever ‘Duck Boat’ tour.

The tour will show the city’s sights by land and by water.

Passengers will climb aboard the duck boat in the city centre and it will then splash into the River Lagan and continue its journey. The tour will explore notable city centre landmark sites including Botanic Gardens, Queens University, the Crown Bar, the Grand Opera House and City Hall. After viewing the Titanic shipyards, it is time for "Splashdown", as the 30 ft Hydra Terra craft will splash into the river Lagan where passengers will see Belfast from a uniquely different perspective.

Jackie Johnston, Department for Social Development said: "This is great news for tourism in Belfast. The Duck Tour will help open up the River Lagan to thousands more people in a unique way. Never before has Belfast seen transport of this kind. The new 'Splash Tours' will see Belfast join major cities across the world in providing visitors with the opportunity to experience travel through the city by land and water."

Andy O'Donovan, Managing Director of Belfast Splash Tours said: "We at Belfast Splash Tours feel extremely privileged to introduce this new and exciting Duck Tour to Belfast. This unique land and water based tour is an unprecedented first for Northern Ireland and it provides an unrivalled opportunity to showcase Belfast’s rich heritage and culture from a new and inspiring perspective. Today’s launch kicks off our campaign to further enhance the overall visitor experience of Belfast and to guarantee a sustainable tourism industry with maximum returns for Northern Ireland."

The craft will carry up to 28 people, including two crew. It will depart from Chichester Street (Victoria Square) and will head eastwards to the Ravenhill Reach Slipway where the craft will enter the water. Exiting at the Ravenhill Reach Slipway, the tour will continue taking in many of the city's landmarks before returning to Chichester Street.

It is envisaged that there will be five tours a day and each tour will last for approximately 60 minutes. The first tours will begin on Friday 23 April.

The Department for Social Development, which has statutory responsibility for designated areas of the River Lagan, has been responsible for providing a licence to operate the tour. The Department has invested heavily over the past number of years in the River Lagan to create an environment that will encourage investment and provide a facility that people will want to use.

Notes to editors:

1. The Belfast Splash Tours will employ eight people, six full time and two part time.
2. The operator expects to carry up to 28,000 passengers in the first year.
3. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office’s Bridgeen Rea on 028 9082 9078 or 07875 765 455. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07669 715 440 and your call will be returned.