‘Local partnership key to driving regional tourism’ – Foster
Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has said partnerships between the public and private sector at a local level will drive faster growth in regional tourism. The Minister said there is a key role for local councils and communities to develop regional tourism destination plans.
Foster said, “It makes sense to harness knowledge, commitment and resources at local level to shape meaningful tourism plans that are relevant to individual areas. Local partnerships will therefore play an important role in the implementation of tourism initiatives by helping provide an inspiring vision for the development of Northern Ireland’s tourism experience through to the year 2020, and an action plan to deliver it.”
“This will encourage and support regional planning of the type that we’ve seen already within the NI2012 campaign. Central to our approach will be the greater involvement of local people in planning, implementing and delivering our tourism product, activities and amenities.”
Newry is one of nine local tourism areas which has been identified and Foster continued, “The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is already working with local bodies to progress the development of a Destination Plan which will involve a partnership approach with both the private and public sector. The Board’s role will be to provide guidance and support at the national delivery level. Local authorities will play a very important role in integrating their work on community planning with the development of destination plans, which will be owned by local stakeholders.”
“NITB will support local areas by providing research, intelligence and advice in developing plans, aligning marketing and promotional activity as well as developing and implementing technology solutions to transform the provision and distribution of visitor information,” she added.
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