Public and private sectors join forces to boost tourism

The public and private sectors have joined forces to launch a brand new visitor’s guide to Belfast.

The Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau (BVCB) and partner Guinness Northern Ireland launched the new 116-page Belfast City Visitor Guide, available at the Belfast Welcome Centre.

The guide comes in a new easy-to-handle magazine format – the first UK tourist publication to be produced in this format - and contains everything that visitors need to know about Belfast with lots of fresh new images. The guide will also be used as BVCB's key marketing tool for the promotion of its members to a world-wide audience.

Helping launch the new guide, Ciaran Rogan, BVCB Chairman, said: “Our partnership with Guinness NI provides us with much needed funding to promote Belfast and produce quality literature to enhance our overall tourism product.

“It is impossible to describe the transformation that has come over the city of Belfast. There is a real feel-good factor about the place and the city is constantly growing, not just in terms of new developments, but in confidence as well. Our partnership with Guinness NI will help us to build on this during the next three years.”

Guinness Northern Ireland’s Sales Director Stephen Magorrian believes that there has never been a better time for tourists and businesses to visit Belfast, he said: “The city is more vibrant and alive than ever. Every week, you read about the opening of a new hotel, club, bar or restaurant in the city - and our business venues for conferences and meetings are second to none.

“There is constant ongoing investment in the city’s tourism infrastructure as illustrated by recent developments such as the terrific new City Airport terminal, new airline services from easyJet and Go, and the opening of quality new establishments such as the Ramada Hotel and TENsq.”

Mr Magorrian added that he hoped the new visitor guide would help illustrate the potential of Belfast to visiting tourists from around the world. (MB)