AQW 50172/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 01/07/2026
Answered On Date: 09/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 48890/22-27, whether her Department’s work to develop Northern Ireland’s night-time economy will include Bangor City Centre.

Answer:

My Department is committed to the development of a safe, thriving and diverse night-time economy across our towns and cities, including Bangor. I am aware of Bangor’s unique proposition for visitors and the potential of its night-time economy.

Tourism NI has engaged with Ards & North Down (AND) Council officials to provide support and advice on relevant tourism aspects of the proposed £70m+ Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment City Deal project, being led by the Department for Communities (DfC). It aims to reconnect the city and sea through a range of attractions and experiences.

The Bangor Waterfront Project is a complementary but separate project to the current £73m Queen’s Parade project. The night-time economy will be significantly important once these key projects are completed so that local and international visitors are attracted and encouraged to spend overnights in the Bangor city area and beyond. Tourism NI looks forward to offering further advice and support to the Council as both projects develop and progress to market readiness.

Tourism NI currently promotes all regions of the North through seasonal marketing campaigns each year, including the Bangor and Ards and North Down areas. These campaigns communicate the compelling reasons to book a short break and are a crucial tool in generating demand for the near 6,000 tourism businesses.

As both the Queen’s Parade and Bangor Waterfront redevelopment projects progress to delivery, Tourism NI will continue to collaborate with AND Council to develop and align promotional plans for Bangor. Tourism NI will work closely with Council and other stakeholders to identify key visitor markets, a communication strategy, and to develop supporting assets to effectively promote the area. Promotional support from Tourism NI will include the city of Bangor in appropriate marketing campaigns, social media, email, and PR activities.