What is tourism?
Tourism is when people make a temporary, short-term movement to a place different from where they live. It is when people travel to explore new places and to visit people for fun or pleasure.
Key facts about tourism in Northern Ireland
In 2023 tourist in Northern Ireland recovered to its pre-pandemic level.
- Over £1 billion was spent on tourism in Northern Ireland.
- 3.9 million hotel and guesthouse rooms were booked
- Across Northern Ireland visitor attractions, including Titanic Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway totalled 10.7 million visits.
Watch: Why tourism is important to Northern Ireland
DIRECTOR: Standby on the floor.
DIRECTOR: Coming to you camera two.
DIRECTOR: Cue on two.
DIRECTOR: Mix-through.
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MAX: I’m Max Heartrate and this is Knowledge Express.
MAX: Information faster than an electric rat up a drainpipe. And today’s topic is…
MAX: Tourism in Northern Ireland!
MAX: Yes, you’ve seen them. Tourists!
MAX: Walking around, holding maps and looking a bit confused. They come from all over the world to see what it's like here in sunny NI!
MAX: And why not! We’ve got things to see.
MAX: The Giant’s Causeway, built back in the day by our resident giant, a Mr F. McCool.
MAX: Then, there’s the Titanic – well not the actual Titanic, it sank, but we have the famous Titanic Belfast that tells the story of the largest ship in the world, well it was in 1912.
MAX: We have mountains, rivers, lakes, beaches, forests. You can hike, bike, dive, drive, surf and turf. And all in a compact little country that could fit into the USA 700 times!
MAX: We have a burgeoning TV and film industry, including hit flicks and shows that attract hundreds of thousands of people to Northern Ireland to see where they’ve been filmed. Don’t do it myself. I don’t watch TV… because I’m on it!
MAX: And why is tourism a good thing? I’ll tell you why. Money.
MAX: Around 5 million visitors every year, spending over one billion pounds, keep our hotels, restaurants and shops busy and our economy on the up and up.
MAX: And up and up!! And now, loads of tourists are arriving on cruise ships! Over a hundred of these floating hotels offload a third of a million visitors a year onto our shores for a night on the town, a day on a bus or a go on the Pickie Puffer.
MAX: That means more tourists, more money and more fun!
MAX: As we say here, Tourism in Northern Ireland, “Sure you couldn’t beat it with a big stick!”
Travel trends
In 2023 Tourism Northern Ireland noted some key trends for the tourism business in Northern Ireland:
Unique and Authentic Experiences
- Tourists will go to places to immerse themselves in the local culture.
- Local excursions and immersive food and drink trips set to be popular.
- Screen tourism will continue to be a trend. After the international success of Game of Thrones, Derry Girls and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, Northern Ireland is set to continue to benefit from this type of trip.
Relaxation and Escapism
- Getting away from it all, for wellness and relaxation are key reasons for travel.
- Tourists are keen to relax with their pets and the trend for escapism as a solo travel is set to rise.
Sustainable Tourism
- Increased tourist awareness that sustainable tourism is not only about the environment.
- Tourists and businesses understand that tourism needs to be financially sustainable.
- The social aspect is also important, balancing the needs of both the visitor and the local community, so that all can benefit from the growth of the tourist sector.
Seamless Travel
- Tourists want a hassle-free experience when taking a trip.
- They will use the latest technology to improve their travel while still wanting high quality, face-to-face service.
Value for Money
- Despite the current high cost of living pressure, many people still want to travel and enjoy a high-quality experience that is good value for money.
The growth of tourism
Tourism has become one of the most important economic sectors within Northern Ireland.
Until the 1960s, tourism for most people meant a trip in their own country, such as a week in Portrush or Newcastle.
What are the three reasons why people were able to start travelling internationally?
- Increased leisure time
In the 1950s most workers worked for over 50 hours a week but this has come down to 37 hours a week. Today, there are additional public holidays as well as increased, and more flexible leave available in many jobs. This means that people have more time available for longer holidays.
- More money (disposable income)
Disposable income is the money which is left when people have paid their everyday living costs. Wages have increased significantly in the last 70 years, increasing people’s disposable income. Many people now have more money available to pay for a holiday abroad.
- Cheaper travel
The cost of international travel has come down in recent years. More people have their own car, or can afford to pay for flights on cheaper ‘low cost’ airlines. The cost of travel means that people can go on more holidays than before.
Much of the money made from tourism in Northern Ireland comes from local visitors but as the number of international travellers increases, the amount of money that is created by tourism is also increasing.
The increase of cruise ships in Northern Ireland
- In the 2023 cruise season a record breaking 170 cruise visits docked in Belfast.
- This was made up of 62 different vessels from 36 different cruise lines.
- Cruise ships brought in over 300 000 visitors and added over £20 million to the local economy.
- The Cruise industry in Belfast only started in 2012, with 41 cruise ship visits and around 75,000 visitors.
- This increase is due to the fact that travellers are interested in visiting the unique scenery and finding out more about the history of Northern Ireland.
- Cruises are a good way for people to see the best sites in a place before moving on to their next port.
Quiz: Take the tourism test
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