Tourism Northern Ireland has launched its Tourism and Hospitality Week, which runs until October 2, the agency said on September 29.
The sector generates £1.2bn for Northern Ireland’s economy and supports more than 70,000 jobs and nearly 6,000 businesses, according to Tourism NI, which says £1.5bn of tourism investment is planned over the next decade. The week follows the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance’s three-year growth strategy, and includes a trade push into the US, with Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland hosting a group of US tour operators on a sustainable tourism familiarisation trip.
The week opened with Tourism NI’s Tourism 2030: Turning Momentum into Growth conference, which looked at how an effective tourism system and shared commitment across the sector can support growth and resilience. A series of events is taking place across Northern Ireland during the week.
Tourism NI has also launched an autumn marketing campaign aimed at short breaks and days out. The multi-channel campaign is expected to reach about 69% of adults across the island of Ireland and generate 56.5mn impacts.
“Tourism is entering into a period of transformation and growth with £1.5 billion in investment planned over the next decade, further enhancing the visitor experience,” said Eimear Callaghan, Director of Client Engagement at Tourism NI. “Our opportunity now is to turn this momentum into growth.”
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said the week was “an opportunity not only to celebrate the people and businesses driving the sector forward, but to focus on its future”, adding that she was committed to investing in skills and supporting a sustainable tourism sector.
Tourism NI is the public body responsible for developing tourism in Northern Ireland and marketing the region to visitors from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It works with Tourism Ireland, which markets the island of Ireland overseas.