Belfast City Council has launched a new scheme offering small grants of up to £500 to tourism and hospitality businesses, charities, and social enterprises, encouraging them to become more accessible and inclusive to visitors. This is the first such support initiative of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The funding, awarded as a voucher, can be used for small but practical improvements to the visitor experience. These include staff training and awareness, support for navigating websites or booking tickets, or upgrading signage and marketing materials.

The scheme is designed to help the sector explore new markets and tap into the benefits of the ‘purple pound’, which is estimated to be worth £249 billion each year to the UK economy.

Applicants must be based within the Belfast City Council area and provide services for visitors to the city. Vouchers will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. More information and applications can be found at belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism.

Councillor Ian McLaughlin, Chair of the council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: "There has been significant progress made over the last few years to support our local tourism and hospitality providers to think outside the box and look at what other markets they can attract. People with disabilities travel too – but they need to know that the facilities and amenities are in place to support their needs."

Councillor McLaughlin added that the grants will enable venues to extend Belfast's welcoming reputation even further, attracting new and diverse visitors, which in turn supports jobs and creates new opportunities.

Wider Programme of Support The voucher scheme was launched just before World Tourism Day (which was on Saturday, 27 September 2025). It forms part of the wider Embrace the Inclusive Spirit programme, delivered by the council in partnership with Visit Belfast, Tourism NI, and the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance. The programme supports the Make Yourself at Home ten-year tourism plan.

The programme has already provided extensive resources, including a practical support toolkit, online training videos, masterclasses where traders can discuss ideas with service users, and suggested itineraries for disabled visitors based on recommendations from local residents.

Carolyn Boyd, Industry Development Manager at Tourism NI, said the organisation was "delighted to support the council in providing vital support to tourism and hospitality businesses to ensure we continue to enhance our services to meet the needs of the widest possible range of visitors to the city and beyond."

Earlier this year, six Belfast venues and visitor experiences were recognised for their efforts at the city's inaugural Inclusive Tourism Awards. An annual seminar, which this year brought together over 120 tour operators, hospitality providers, policy makers and event organisers, will return to Titanic Belfast on Monday, 17 February 2026.

Mary Jo McCanny, Director of Visitor Experience and Destination Initiatives at Visit Belfast, welcomed the vouchers as an important step, ensuring the Belfast region "continues to grow as a destination that provides a positive and welcoming experience for every visitor."

Denise Kennedy, Titanic Belfast Associate Director of Operations, praised the wider programme for enabling businesses, regardless of their size, to "connect with a largely untapped audience, offering them the same great experiences that Northern Ireland is world-renowned for." She concluded that working together can "continue to break down barriers, raise standards and showcase Northern Ireland as a destination that everyone can enjoy."

All the Embrace the Inclusive Spirit resources are available on the council's website at belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism