AQW 24731/11-15


Mr Peter Weir
Democratic Unionist Party
North Down


Tabled Date: 26/06/2013
Answered On Date: 09/07/2013
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail (i) the top ten tourist attractions in County Down, in terms of visitor numbers; and (ii) the number of visitors each received, in the last available year.


Revised Answer:
I replied on 9 July 2013 to AQW 24731/11-15 in which you asked for details of (i) the top ten tourist attractions in County Down, in terms of visitor numbers; and (ii) the number of visitors each received, in the last available year.
NISRA have subsequently identified an error in the response submitted.
In the original response issued to the AQ the top ten tourist attractions in County Down during 2012 were identified as follows:
Attraction
Visitor Numbers 2012
Delamont Country Park
577,320
Dundonald International Ice Bowl
459,308
Newry Cathedral
200,000
Scrabo Country Park
180,000
The Saint Patrick Centre
91,780
Kilbroney Park
85,794
North Down Museum
69,148
Rowallane Garden
51,615
Newry and Mourne Museum
34,719
Ards Arts Centre
33,332
Having now identified and resolved the error in the initial response the top ten tourist attractions in County Down during 2012 were as follows:
Attraction
Visitor Numbers 2012
Dundonald International Ice Bowl
459,308
Pickie Fun Park
244,879
Newry Cathedral
200,000
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
176,551
Castle Ward House & Demesne
161,339
Mount Stewart House and Gardens
158,500
The Saint Patrick Centre
91,780
North Down Museum
69,148
Hillsborough Courthouse
54,376
FE McWilliam Gallery/Studio (incl Tourist Information Centre)
50,466
For the purposes of NISRA’s Annual Tourism Statistics publication 2012 country parks/parks/forests and gardens are separated into a category of their own. Responding country parks/parks/forests and gardens in County Down who did not wish their details to remain confidential are also provided separately as follows:
Attraction
Visitor Numbers 2012
Crawfordsburn Country Park
800,000
Delamont Country Park
577,320
Scrabo Country Park
180,000
Rowallane Garden
51,615
This information is sourced from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency’s Visitor Attraction Survey. It is important to note that the Visitor Attraction Survey is a voluntary survey and all data presented in the report is based solely on the visitor numbers provided by the attractions choosing to take part in the survey. Visitor numbers are accepted in good faith from the proprietor of the attraction.
I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
I have copied this letter to the Speaker and all MLAs. A copy has also been placed in the library.