AQO 2013/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/04/2021
Answered On Date: 11/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to outline the support her Department will provide to hotels to prepare for the return of overseas visitors.

Answer:

My Department has worked closely with the hotel sector in preparation for re-opening, and the return of overseas visitors.

Hotels have been involved in Tourism NI international marketing and sales activity programmes, such as Meet the Buyer, delivered in partnership with Tourism Ireland. More events are planned for 2021.

My Department and Tourism NI have also worked with the hotel sector to produce a ‘Working Safely during COVID-19 for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses’ guide which explains how businesses can keep guests as safe as possible.

Tourism NI introduced ‘We’re Good To Go’, a COVID safety accreditation, in 2020. Members are automatically eligible for the World Travel and Tourism Council international ‘Safe Travels’ stamp.

Tourism NI has also worked with the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation to create a webinar to help hotels prepare to reopen, and to outline available marketing support.

I have asked the Tourism Recovery Steering Group to develop a Phase Two Tourism Recovery Action Plan, which I hope to publish shortly. The Action Plan will include a range of measures aimed at supporting the tourism and hospitality industry, including the hotel sector, to drive demand and attract visitors from the domestic, Republic of Ireland and overseas markets.