Derry must be promoted as tourism hub linking Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coast, says Sinead McLaughlin

The SDLP MLA, speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, said more needed to be done at a national and regional level to market Derry as such a tourism hub.

She said she had been pleased that the putative Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/Green Party Programme for Government included a commitment to 'work with the Northern Irish Executive to create a coastal tourist trail, linking the Wild Atlantic Way, the Causeway Coastal Route and along our eastern and southern coast'.

"On Tourism Ireland, the Irish draft programme for government has in it a commitment to support the linkage of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast, which promises to provide a major boost to Derry city, as we are at the beginning and end of both," she said.

She asked Executive Office Minister Declan Kearney if this can be raised as a priority at the next North South Ministerial Council meeting.

"Can the Minister give a clear commitment that Tourism Ireland will fully engage with the project and that the Executive will this time give full support to this important vision?

"I say 'urgently': we are going into a period now - a very short tourism opportunity - and it will be about 'staycations'. We need the focus of Tourism Ireland to be on this island and between the two components of this island," she declared.

Mr. Kearney replied: "Of course, the Member is right, particularly given that we are living through the associated economic and social emergency alongside our health emergency.

"It is essential that we proceed to reboot, warm up and reactivate our economy in all of its sectors at this point in time. The sector that faces greatest jeopardy at this time, because it is so seasonally sensitive, is our hospitality and tourism industry.

"Yes, the Executive are fully committed to ensuring that all aspects of our tourist industry in this region are maximised. I can give the Member an assurance that, when the next NSMC plenary meeting convenes - as I said, that needs to be done urgently; there should be no more foot-dragging or prevarication, and the Irish Government should convene that meeting - that will provide an important opportunity and forum for the issues to be discussed in detail and in a strategic sense."

After the exchange Mrs. McLaughlin said: “Derry is a great city that has had difficulty in attracting tourists in the numbers it deserves as a place of beauty, history and enormous friendliness. It sits in one of the most gorgeous locations in Ireland, on the Foyle and below the hills of Donegal.

“The Republic’s draft Programme for Government very appropriately commits the potential new administration in the south to promoting the linkage of the very successful Wild Atlantic Way with the north’s wonderful Causeway Coast. This is excellent news for Derry as our city is the gateway connecting these two great routes.

“I asked Executive Office minister Declan Kearney to commit support for this initiative, which I am pleased to say he did. Linkage of the two coastal journeys would be an example of how partnership between the two governments can improve outcomes that benefit everyone.

"Promoting these two road trips on an all-island basis makes obvious sense and should have been done years ago. So let’s get on with it at a time when we need to promote ‘staycations’ in Ireland to rescue our tourism sector.”