Armagh and Down team up to take on the world

By Nigel Tilson

15 November 2005

An organisation that is bringing together two of Northern Ireland's most historic and scenic regions in a major new tourism drive is due to be officially launched in London today.
The Armagh Down Tourism Partnership is being unveiled at World Travel Market, a major international travel trade exhibition.
Embracing the public and private sectors across the council areas of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Newry and Mourne and North Down, the new body already has a membership of almost 600 private enterprises providing a broad range of facilities for visitors.
It has been created as the first of the strengthened tourism delivery structures for Northern Ireland proposed under the NI Tourist Board's 'Strategic Framework For Action' plan.
The seven councils have provided start-up funding of £271,000, while £223,000 of EU support funding has been drawn down by the Tourist Board in addition to private sector contributions of £160,000 - a total investment of £654,000.
"Tourism in the region is already worth around £90m annually and members of the partnership hope to see that figure climb significantly as a result of their efforts," explained Mark Mohan on behalf of the new body.
The partnership will act as a one-stop shop for advice and information for visitors and for those seeking guidance in developing the regions' tourism product.