AQW 27269/17-22
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 13/12/2021
Answered On Date: 29/12/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the steps he is taking to support and expand the hospitality industry in (i) East Londonderry; and (ii) the north coast.
Answer:
In November 2019, Tourism NI launched its new Experience Brand, Northern Ireland - Embrace a Giant Spirit, which features a number of visitor experiences in the Causeway Coast & Glens (CC&G) area including Whiskey on the Rocks, Beyond the Bridge and Catch & Sea. There are significant opportunities that exist around CC&G’s role as part of the £72m Causeway Coast & Glens Regional Growth Deal, meaning that further investment in the area as an already successful tourism destination is being considered. Tourism NI is working closely with CC&G council on their Regional Growth Deal, to help to market test and develop projects such as Dunluce Castle, to ensure that investment in tourism is aligned to Tourism NI’s key strategic objectives. The tables below sets out the tourism operators located in the East Derry Constituency/North Coast area for which Tourism NI has provided funding to support and expand the hospitality industry, in recent years. Experience Development Programme 2020-21 | Drenagh Farms Limited | Limavady | BT49 0HP | £200,000 | Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil | Limavady | BT49 9DY | £200,000 | Alive Adventures | Portrush | BT56 8GJ | £53,760 | Freedive Northern Ireland | Portrush | BT56 8LP | £6,208 | Aquaholics | Portstewart | BT55 7BE | £42, 920 | Dunfin Farm | Ballycastle | BT53 8SB | £5,318.40 | Total | | | £508,206.40 |
Experience Development Programme Audio Equipment 2020-21 | Causeway Coast Foodie Tours | Coleraine | BT52 1JE | £1,256 | White River Charters Ltd. | Portstewart | BT55 7DJ | £1,556 | Total | | | £2,812.00 |
Website Development Programme 2020-21 | Causeway Coast Foodie Tours | Coleraine | BT52 1JE | £7,056 | The Chocolate Manor | Coleraine | BT51 4RA | £8,572 | The Lake Kilrea | Kilrea | BT51 5RR | £12,628 | Ulster Gliding Centre | Limavady | BT49 0LA | £13,846 | Crindle Stables | Limavady | BT49 9ED | £3,880 | Aquaholics | Portstewart | BT55 7BE | £5,150 | Dunfin Farm | Ballycastle | BT53 8SB | £4,876.80 | Trout Tours Northern Ireland | Larne | BT40 2HQ | £1,936.00 | The Old Bushmills Distillery | Bushmills | BT57 8XH | £17,200.00 | Nine Glens Walking Tours | Ballycastle | BT54 6JX | £2,240.00 | Total | | | £77,384.80 |
The tables below set out the tourism events located in the East Londonderry Constituency/North Coast for which Tourism NI has provided funding support. Tourism Event Funding Programme 2017/18 | North West 200 Races | £70,000 | SuperCup NI* | £50,000 | Airwaves Portrush | £19,000 | Stendhal Festival | £10,000 | Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive* | £10,000 | Total | £159,000 |
* Elements of these events were held within the East Londonderry Constituency/North Coast area/s Tourism Event Funding Programme 2018/19 | North West 200 Races | £70,000 | SuperCup NI* | £45,000 | Airwaves Portrush | £20,000 | Stendhal Festival | £15,000 | Total | £150,000 |
* Elements of these events were held within the East Londonderry Constituency/North Coast area/s Tourism Event Funding Programme 2019/20 | North West 200 Races | £70,000 | SuperCup NI* | £45,000 | Airwaves Portrush | £12,000 | Stendhal Festival | £12,000 | Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive* | £6,000 | Total | £145,000 |
* Elements of these events were held within the East Londonderry Constituency/North Coast area/s Tourism Event Funding Programme - Taste the Island 2019/20 | Taste Causeway | £7,000 | Total | £7,000 |
Tourism Event Funding Programme 2020/21 | North West 200 Races | £75,000 | Total | £75,000 |
Tourism NI will continue to work closely with colleagues in CC&G council, as well as other stakeholders in the area, to identify and develop tourism projects, including the planning for and supporting the delivery of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2025.
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