NISRA shows Belfast with maximum number of overnight visits in 2017

Friday, July 27, 2018

The booming tourism market of north keeps on growing with the number of overnight trips coming to a total of over five million in 2017, as per the official figures.

 
The tourism data, published by NISRA yesterday shows expansion across the board, with overnight stays increasing from an estimated 4.6 million in 2016 to 5 million in 2017 respectively. As anticipated, Belfast accounts for the maximum number of overnight visits, with almost a third (£1.5 million) visiting the city in 2017, spending around £328m (35 per cent) of the £926m total tourism spend in the north. This is a slight drop on its market share, recorded at 39 percent in 2016.

 
The statistics disclosed major increases in revenue in the next biggest tourism markets – Causeway, Coast and Glens council area and Newry, Mourne and Down. The former welcomed over 1 million overnight visitors in 2017, which spent almost £194m, a 42 percent hike on 2016, as the latter witnessed spending from overnight trips by almost 47 percent to £90m from 590,000 visitors. Fermanagh and Omagh was the next highest with 343,000 visitors and a £57m spend.

 
Also, Hotel occupancy improved from 70 percent to 73 percent over the year, as there was a marginal growth in nights sold, rising to 2.11 million. Over two fifths (45 per cent) of all available hotel room nights were in Belfast, with almost half (48 per cent) of the overall total sold in the city.

 
The Giants Causeway stays the most sought-after tourist attraction with 1 million visits, followed by Titanic Belfast (0.76 million).

 
Hospitality Ulster chief executive, Colin Neill explained that the recent figures show tourism is the main driver of the local economy, but noted the wealth is not being shared equally.

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