I read a report today on the BBC NI website and I'm still trying to work out what it says. Are we seeing an increase or decrease in tourists to Northern Ireland?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20525743
According to these new statistics the number of oversees tourists has fallen in 2012 by 12% but then the report goes on to say that North American visitors are up 18% and hotel room occupancy up by 11%. The figures from places like Titanic Belfast and the Giant's Causeway appear very healthy and certainly in my own travels this summer, I saw more tourists than I ever recall before and a greater number of them were from overseas. I remarked on that in a few of my blog posts. The stats coming in from Titanic and the Causeway reflect what I encountered and I find it hard to believe visitors are down, overall, by 12%. I know I didn't feel that when I was queuing for a much desired cup of tea in the visitor's centre cottage at Carrick-A-Rede.
Short Stories and novel extracts in women's fiction genre. Photos from around Northern Ireland that have inspired or appear in writing.
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Our Place
We've had reminders recently that there are still people in Northern Ireland determined to bring the peace process to an end. I grew up in a time when reports of punishment shootings, tit-for-tat revenge, and talk of legitimate targets were daily news articles. A time when a loud bang had you wondering where your nearest and dearest where because your first thought was bomb and when a fire alarm meant bomb scare. I never want to go back to that or see another generation feel the need to get out and away.
For all this country has been through, I've always been proud to be from Northern Ireland and am glad I moved back here. It's a beautiful place and it, and the people, deserve peace. I talked about that in the post Why Northern Ireland? when I discussed why I set my stories here and talk about it on the blog. We have to acknowledge what's happened, it's part of us but there is so much more to Northern Ireland and I hope some small piece of what I do here shows that.
Today, after speculation, it's been officially announced that the G8 Summit is coming back to the UK and this time it will be in Northern Ireland. They've chosen the Lough Erne Resort outside Enniskillen in Co, Fermanagh. I visited the Resort this summer, enjoying a relaxing evening there with my husband and children, after a day spent cycling around Crom Estate and Castle Coole. It is based around golf courses and a lake, with a turreted hotel, lodges and holiday homes. It's a quiet spot around the edges of Fermanagh's lakes and we found the welcome, service and food excellent. There's already been some talk of those who will protest against or at the Summit, as usually accompanies it, but there's a strong focus on the positive aspects of this group coming to Northern Ireland. The logo for Discover NI (the official tourism site for Northern Ireland) is currently 'ni2012 our time our place.' With recent tourism highs like the MTV EMA's, the opening of Titanic Belfast, the Olympics torch relay and the investment we've seen in places like the new visitors centre at The Giant's Causeway we're seeing much greater number of visitors and maybe this is the time for the people of NI to hold our heads high (or at least higher) and be proud of our place. Northern Ireland has climbed up the rankings of places to visit, according to Guides such as Lonely Planet (incidentally one of it's founders - Maureen Wheeler - is originally from Belfast) so perhaps this Summit will continue to put NI on the map for good reasons, rather than just our troubled past.
Losing the light and rain coming in means this wasn't the best picture (snapped as we drove out of the Resort) but this is a photo of one of the views at Lough Erne.
For all this country has been through, I've always been proud to be from Northern Ireland and am glad I moved back here. It's a beautiful place and it, and the people, deserve peace. I talked about that in the post Why Northern Ireland? when I discussed why I set my stories here and talk about it on the blog. We have to acknowledge what's happened, it's part of us but there is so much more to Northern Ireland and I hope some small piece of what I do here shows that.
Today, after speculation, it's been officially announced that the G8 Summit is coming back to the UK and this time it will be in Northern Ireland. They've chosen the Lough Erne Resort outside Enniskillen in Co, Fermanagh. I visited the Resort this summer, enjoying a relaxing evening there with my husband and children, after a day spent cycling around Crom Estate and Castle Coole. It is based around golf courses and a lake, with a turreted hotel, lodges and holiday homes. It's a quiet spot around the edges of Fermanagh's lakes and we found the welcome, service and food excellent. There's already been some talk of those who will protest against or at the Summit, as usually accompanies it, but there's a strong focus on the positive aspects of this group coming to Northern Ireland. The logo for Discover NI (the official tourism site for Northern Ireland) is currently 'ni2012 our time our place.' With recent tourism highs like the MTV EMA's, the opening of Titanic Belfast, the Olympics torch relay and the investment we've seen in places like the new visitors centre at The Giant's Causeway we're seeing much greater number of visitors and maybe this is the time for the people of NI to hold our heads high (or at least higher) and be proud of our place. Northern Ireland has climbed up the rankings of places to visit, according to Guides such as Lonely Planet (incidentally one of it's founders - Maureen Wheeler - is originally from Belfast) so perhaps this Summit will continue to put NI on the map for good reasons, rather than just our troubled past.
Losing the light and rain coming in means this wasn't the best picture (snapped as we drove out of the Resort) but this is a photo of one of the views at Lough Erne.
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