Bumper year forecast for NI Tourism

By Nigel Tilson, Business Editor
ntilson@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
21 February 2005

Northern Ireland's tourist industry is in line for a bumper year, the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board has insisted.

Alan Clarke said the results of the board's latest tourism barometer pointed to a strong performance in 2005.
The survey, carried out three times a year, shows the hotel sector in particular was buoyant last year.

It revealed 85% of Ulster's hotels said bednights were up on a year before and 90% said profitability was up.
In addition two-thirds of hotels had experienced an improvement in room yield.

The bed and breakfast/guesthouse sector was not as chirpy, although there was a slight improvement in fortunes compared to 2003. A total of 15% of guesthouses said bednights had increased, while 78% said volumes had not changed; the corresponding figures for B&Bs were 28% and 67% respectively.

All accommodation sectors said overseas business (including GB) had grown. Overall there was an 85% increase in overseas visitors. The domestic market has also grown, as has the number of visitors from the Republic.
"There is optimism among tourism providers for the year ahead. Over the past 12 months we have seen the confirmation of much improved direct air access from Europe and North America. This year we will welcome visitors direct from Paris, Berlin, Rome and New York," said Mr Clarke.

The NITB chief pointed out the results from the final barometer of 2004 provided confirmation of the positive performance reported during the year.
"Businesses have cited a number of factors affecting performance including ease of access, particularly from Great Britain, " he said. The research, which covered 422 tourism establishments throughout NI, was carried out in early December by Tourism Development International and Webtourism