Tourism NI has introduced 14 new visitor experiences showcasing Northern Ireland's deep historical ties with the United States.

Developed with industry partners, the immersive activities range from jewellery-making and whiskey tours to an Ancestral Cottage Trail, ancestry research and guided walks.

The programme aims to enrich offerings that tell the stories of people from Northern Ireland who helped shape America – from influences on the Declaration of Independence to generations of Ulster-Scots and Irish migration.

Funded by the Department for Communities' USA-NI250 Scheme, the America250 Experience Development Programme coincides with this year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Northern Ireland and the United States share longstanding cultural connections, reflecting intertwined histories and a common heritage.

In 2025, US visitors made 186,000 trips to Northern Ireland, stayed 638,000 nights and spent £54 million, underlining the market's strategic importance.

Earlier this year, Tourism NI sought proposals for new experiences that combine historical authenticity, community engagement and creative storytelling.

Selected experiences had to be place-based, culturally rooted and reflect diverse cultural narratives, including Ulster-Scots, Scotch-Irish and Irish contributions to American history during the late 18th Century.

The 14 experiences, unveiled this week at McConnell's Distillery, are located in and around Belfast, the North-West, Mid Ulster and counties Antrim and Down. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: "The connections on this island with America run deep. There are centuries of shared history, from the Ulster influence on the Declaration of Independence, to the migration of Ulster-Scots and Irish communities, whose legacy continues to shape America today.

"These connections continue to be a powerful driver for tourism. In 2025, visitors from the US made almost 200,000 trips here contributing £54 million to our economy. This clearly demonstrates both the strength of this market and the opportunity for future growth.

"I therefore very much welcome this exciting new series of America 250 tourism experiences to add to our existing tourism offering and commend all involved for the innovation, creativity and commitment that have helped bring these experiences to life."

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: "I am delighted that new tourism experiences have been developed through Department for Communities funding that reflect our shared cultural heritage with the US and build on the legacy of connection between Northern Ireland and America.

"America250 is a historic milestone, and it is right that both local and international audiences can now find out more about those close links and our common history that continues to bind us together."

Liz Steele, Culture and Heritage Tourism Manager at Tourism NI, said: "These new experiences are a welcome addition to our tourism offering.

"The participants have used a diverse range of themes to bring to life our cultural and historic connections with one of our largest out of state markets.

"America250 presented us with opportunity to develop this programme to create experiences that will motivate our visitors to actively engage with the destination, not just this year, but for years to come."