More than 60 researchers from all over Ireland will discuss the state of tourism and the hospitality industry in both parts of the island at a two-day conference at the University of Ulster next week.

Topics covered will range from planning and development to tourism and hospital education to niche tourism markets such as film locations, cultural and heritage sites and sporting events.

Senior officials of Ireland’s main tourism marketing bodies - Alan Clarke, chief executive of the NI Tourist Board, Aidan Pender, Director of Education and Training, Failte Ireland and Paul O’Toole, chief executive of Tourism Ireland - will be among the speakers at the conference entitled ‘Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland: Exploring the Issues’.

Professor Stephen Boyd, Professor of Tourism at UU, said: “Tourism has held the accolade of being the largest industry in the world for more than 20 years and this sector’s importance to the Northern Ireland economy has witnessed rejuvenation of late. Last year Northern Ireland celebrated over two million out-of-state visitors for the first time.”

The conference is being staged as the University launches two new Masters programmes in tourism. They have been devised in response to the growing importance of the hotel and tourism industry.

(MB/SP)