Canada offers significant potential for Northern Ireland tourism, according to new research unveiled by Tourism Ireland in Belfast this week.
According to Tourism Ireland, in 2018, almost 66,000 Canadians visited Northern Ireland (+8% on 2017), spending almost £19 million, and Canada was the fourth largest overseas tourism market for Northern Ireland last year in terms of visitors, holiday-makers and spend. Furthermore, holiday visitor numbers to Northern Ireland from Canada have doubled over the last five years, according to the marketing organisation, growing from 20,111 in 2013 to almost 40,000 in 2018.
Tourism Ireland is now focussing on promoting Northern Ireland in Canada by expanding its programme of promotions in western Canada and Montreal, and highlighting Northern Irish historical, cultural and golfing sites, as well as festivals and events. Additionally, Tourism Ireland is planning to work more closely with the Canadian travel trade to extend the Northern Ireland content of their programmes, and expand its travel trade education programme to feature lesser-known attractions, among other initiatives.
An "Undoubtedly Bright" Future
Tourism Ireland’s head of North America Alison Metcalfe stated, "Canada has performed extremely well for tourism to Northern Ireland in recent years and the future is undoubtedly bright. However, we can’t take this performance for granted. In order to ensure that success continues, we need to adapt and respond to new challenges and opportunities. I am confident that the opportunities identified in our research, and the strategy we will implement as a result, will deliver further growth in Canadian visitor numbers over the coming years."
© 2019 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
