TOURISM BODIES URGE FACILITIES TO CONSIDER SUNDAY OPENING

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF BVCB & NITB

1st MArch 2007

A pilot scheme to extend Sunday opening in the Belfast Welcome Centre on Donegall Place from the summer months to all year round has proven to be highly successful.

Figures released today show that over 20,000 people have used the tourist information centre on Sundays since the beginning of April 2006.

As a consequence, the Belfast Welcome Centre which provides tourism information for Belfast and Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board are urging businesses to consider Sunday opening.

Mary Jo McCanny, Director of Visitor Servicing at BVCB, which manages Belfast Welcome Centre on behalf of Belfast City Council and NITB says;

“Last year’s pilot project of remaining open on Sundays throughout the year and extending opening to five hours has received a very positive response from visitors, keen to find out what there is to see and do in Belfast and beyond.

We expect to see these numbers increase further this year, not least because there are five cruise ships due to dock in Belfast this summer on a Sunday, potentially bringing over 8,000 additional visitors into the city. It is just as important for us to reach these visitors and ensure they have the best possible experience as it is for us to appeal to those who come into the city through the week and we would appeal to our members and anyone in a business which could benefit tourism in the city to consider opening on a Sunday,“ Mary Jo added.

Richard Robinson, NITB’s Regions & Signatures Project Manager agrees.

“With an average of 516 people using the Belfast Welcome Centre each Sunday, it is obvious that there is a high demand from visitors for information on what facilities are available in Belfast and Northern Ireland at the weekend.

“NITB and BVCB are emphasising the importance of extending Sunday opening hours and are encouraging businesses to provide a wider range of options and activities on a Sunday for both local people and those coming into the city from further afield,” says Richard.

“Belfast is a vibrant, welcoming city which acts as a gateway to the rest of Northern Ireland and we want to ensure that no matter what day of the week it is, visitors should be able to have the best possible experience enjoying all that we have to offer here,” he adds.

Olga Murtagh, Belfast City Council’s Tourism Development Manager says;

“Increasing numbers of businesses are beginning to open on Sundays but we are keen to encourage visitor facilities that aren’t open to consider doing so. While we understand that Sunday opening does require an extra commitment in terms of resources, we believe there is a great opportunity to grow the market as tourist attractions extend their hours.”

The Belfast Welcome Centre,Tourism Information for Belfast and Northern Ireland is jointly funded by BelfastCity Council and NITB and also through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. It is one of a network of 30 Tourist Information Offices throughout Northern Ireland.

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