Tourism NI has welcomed today’s release of positive performance figures for January to June 2017 from all markets. Figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) show that tourism generated 7.6 million nights, an increase of 18%. Visitor spend reached an unprecedented £417 million, 16% more than during... View Article
‘The Northern Ireland hospitality sector still has the potential to become a £1bn industry by 2020, despite significant challenges such as Brexit.’ That was the key message from a business breakfast at the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) annual conference and exhibition, the ‘Hospitality Exchange’. At the breakfast hosted by... View Article
According to latest statistics released by the Central Statistics Office in the Republic total trips to Northern Ireland rose by 23% while spend by Republic of Ireland visitors reached almost £40 million between January and June 2017. Growth in trips was largely due to the higher spending holiday market, which... View Article
Belfast’s Odyssey Pavilion is to undergo a £10 million refurbishment, following the submission of a new planning application. Plans include a new main entrance to the Odyssey Pavilion, upgrade of public realm and reconfiguration of the existing retail units. Phase two of the redevelopment will see further significant improvements to the... View Article
Tourism funding in Northern Ireland “requires an urgent rethink”, one of the region’s foremost hotel owners has said. Howard Hastings, who heads Hastings Hotels, was speaking during the annual meeting of Visit Belfast, the tourism promotion body. The Visit Belfast chairman said “without action”, our tourism industry risks seeing slowing... View Article
A report has found that slashing Northern Ireland’s tax on accommodation and visitor attractions by 15% could add more than 2,000 jobs to the regional economy. EU law prevents member states from setting different levels of the charge for different regions. That power will be repatriated to the UK after Brexit and... View Article
Businesses and entrepreneurs in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon are being urged to sign up for a packed programme of events as the Council launches its Enterprise Week (November 13th – 18th). Under the theme of ‘Inspire, Innovate and Invest’ the week supports ambitions to create over 7,000 new jobs within... View Article
Tourism Ireland has teamed up with BMI Regional, to promote flights to City of Derry Airport from London Stansted and to highlight short breaks and holidays in Londonderry, along the Causeway Coastal Route and around Northern Ireland. Working closely with airlines and airports to build demand for flights is a... View Article
Twenty-two (22) tour operators from leading coach and group travel companies in GB have been exploring Northern Ireland – as guests of Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI. They were visiting Northern Ireland prior to taking part in a B-2-B workshop today (Monday, 18 September), where they are meeting with tourism... View Article
Over 40 influential coach and group tour operators from the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales recently met with members of the local tourism trade as part of Northern Ireland’s only coach and group workshop facilitated by Tourism NI. Coach tour operators in attendance at the workshop, held at... View Article
