Derry has key role in tourism drive

Derry’s role in tourism can help the Northern Ireland Executive achieve a key Programme for Government target of promoting up to 25,000 new jobs over the next four years, Dr Howard Hastings, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, has said.

Following the launch of an update document on progress to the tourism body’s ‘One Team, One Voice’ campaign, Dr Hastings said tourism could provide greater employment opportunities in Derry and throughout Northern Ireland because of its position as a key industry in most areas including predominantly rural communities.

Commenting on the Programme for Government proposals, he said events being planned under the ‘NI2012 Our Time, Our Place’ initiative and, in 2013, when Derry will be the UK City of Culture and the World Police and Fire Games will be held here “can drive the economy forward faster and create thousands of new employment opportunities.

“Our aim next year will also be to ensure visitors return in 2013 to be part of the tremendous schedule of activities being planned to celebrate Derry’s role as the UK City of Culture,” he said.

“Over the next two years, Northern Ireland will have an unprecedented opportunity to shine on the global stage. We must ensure that the projected growth in tourism likely to result provides tangible benefits for people in every part of Northern Ireland particularly in terms of employment opportunities.

“Tourism, I am convinced, can help the Northern Ireland Executive achieve a key Programme for Government (PfG) target of promoting up to 25,000 new jobs over the next four years. The activities already planned over the next two years can help turn the economy around, stimulate enterprise within the private sector and generate growth.

“Tourism can make a major contribution because our industry is united as never before and has been working together to drive the economy forward. The Campaigning for Tourism – One Voice. One Team is a major initiative launched in November 2010. A year on, close to 100 organisations have joined with NITB to identify and highlight the measures needed to enable Northern Ireland to realise its full potential as a global destination. It is a Northern Ireland initiative focused on producing real dividends.”