NOW is the time to tap into what Northern Ireland has to offer tourists, travel agents from around the world have been told.
A record number of international tour operators took part in a recent Meet the Buyer workshop organised by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) in association with Tourism Ireland.
The first international event to be held at Titanic Belfast, it found more than 140 operators from North America and Europe as well as Great Britain and the Irish Republic meeting more than 100 key members from the accommodation, attraction, transport, activity and special interest sectors in the province.
The business workshop followed a gala dinner for the delegates and local industry representatives in Titanic Belfast, the first international function of its kind in the building.
“With recent figures showing a four per cent increase in overseas visitors and a massive 20 per cent increase in what they spend, the signs are very healthy for tourism here,” said NITB Chief Executive Alan Clarke.
“Over the past weeks alone we have hosted hundreds of international media as part of the Titanic Belfast Festival which is helping to build a long term legacy and ensure that this growth is sustainable.
“This Meet the Buyer event will help to further build on this success as the holiday market from Great Britain, Republic of Ireland and overseas will be crucial in reaching our tourism targets. These international buyers will also be participating in familiarisation trips that will showcase our scenery, Christian heritage, cookery and food and our history and culture among many other areas of interest.”
Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “The high attendance of these buyers from around the world is a strong indication that interest in visiting Northern Ireland remains high and that it can, and is, competing with the best destinations in the world.”
