Speaking at a conference, ‘In Any Event’, aimed at the Northern Ireland events industry, the Minister said: “For so many years, Northern Ireland was ignored by event organisers. We were not deemed safe or profitable enough to feature on an itinerary for international performers or events.
“Thankfully things have changed: a more stable political situation, a period of relative economic prosperity and improvements to infrastructure which facilitate major events has helped to establish Northern Ireland as a destination for international events.
“With innovations such as the internet, the market has gone truly global. We have done well in recent years in making Northern Ireland the destination of choice and now we want to maintain our position.”
Encouraging the industry to rise to the challenge, the Minister said: “Government and the public sector will continue to work to create the right conditions but the initiative and impetus must come from the industry if our successes are to be sustainable. You have the expertise, the “know-how” and the contacts to make events happen.
“Events make a valuable contribution to the economy, attracting tourism and inward investment and showcasing the best of what Northern Ireland has to offer to locals and visitors alike.
“Looking to the future, my Department , the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, are working together to introduce a comprehensive suite of policies and programmes to support the delivery of events in Northern Ireland from April 2009.
“I congratulate everyone involved in the organisation of the conference and hope that it will encourage the events industry to build on Northern Ireland’s reputation for hosting world class events.”
Notes to Editors:
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