12/02/2021
At a virtual event attended by Visit Belfast’s tourism industry partners and key city stakeholders, the outline strategy highlighted the importance of tourism to the local economy and the opportunity for regrowth inside of three years. In 2019, Belfast accounted for £417m of tourism spend, representing more than 40 percent of the region’s visitor economy and supporting almost 22,000 jobs.
The official destination marketing organisation for the Belfast city region said that while the Covid-19 pandemic had dealt “a hammer blow” to Belfast’s visitor economy, the city is “well placed” to meet the challenges ahead in its new targeted yet flexible approach to marketing the destination.
Speaking at the event, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Frank McCoubrey said:
“Belfast’s tourism industry has played – and will continue to play – a leading role in attracting high value, high spending visitors to the city and beyond, which are so essential for growth. Belfast City Council is committed to working in partnership with Visit Belfast and the tourism industry to ensure that this happens and that we build back better as we transition out of the current health crisis.”
The strategic marketing blueprint is part of a partnership-led approach designed to sustainably reengage with Belfast’s key tourism markets as part of a drive to rebuild the visitor economy in the city in a more sustainable and resilient way.
In a new tourism landscape, Visit Belfast said there would be a priority focus on delivering inclusive growth and protecting and enhancing the local environment by increasing collaboration and partnership across communities and neighbourhoods.