‘Stay local to protect local jobs’

Visit Derry manager Odhran Dunne said citizens now have a massive part to play in helping accommodation providers, the food and drink sector, shops, visitor attractions and related services recover and emerge on a strong footing for when overseas tourists start flowing back into the north west once more.

“It has never been more important than it is now that local people support their local industry,” Mr. Dunne told the ‘Journal’ yesterday.

“It has been an unprecedented and challenging time for the industry, and obviously this is a global crisis that is affecting the tourism economy across the world. Now it is about how we respond to that in the recovery stage.”

Mr. Dunne said many were relieved and delighted that lockdown easing time-frames have been brought forward, and it is now hoped that the hotels, bars, and restaurants reopening will inspire consumer confidence and help the wider economy, including local taxi drivers and traders.

“There’s an appetite for supporting local and there is a vital civic role for the local population to play. By staying local and spending local we will support our tourism economy and jobs in the sector, local people, local families. We need that now,” Mr. Dunne said.

Visit Derry is working with numerous national tourism bodies across Northern Ireland, the Republic and the UK on a range of campaigns to promote ‘staycations’ rather than going abroad. Meanwhile Visit Derry & Derry City & Strabane District Council are also currently working on a Keep It Local campaign.

The past eight years have seen unprecedented levels of growth in visitors coming to Derry & Strabane, with a £55m tourism spend here last year alone, and while the lockdown may have temporarily decimated that, talks with international operators have been ongoing to promote the city “to ensure Derry is front and centre of their plans when the air and sea traffic returns,” Mr. Dunne said.