Tourism NI Chief Executive John McGrillen has welcomed positive room occupancy figures just released.
He said: “Following a slower start to the year, Northern Ireland hotels achieved record room occupancy levels in both June and July 2016 (82% and 84% respectively).
“Overall there was a 6% increase in beds sold in hotels, guesthouses, B&B’s and guest accommodation across January to July 2016 which equates to 128,000 additional beds sold compared with January to July 2015”.
“The overall increases across January to July are largely due to significant growth in B&B and guest accommodation sales. Room and bed sales were each up by around one third (29% and 32% respectively) for this sector compared with January to July 2015.
“In addition, findings from Tourism NI’s June 2016 Tourism Industry Barometer, a survey of approximately 500 tourism businesses, suggest a positive outlook for the second half of 2016 overall, with hotels, attractions and activity providers emerging as the most positive sectors”.
“Indeed some hotels are reporting their busiest August ever and with the likes of Titanic Belfast welcoming its three millionth visitor, I have confidence that occupancy growth will have continued into August and beyond once the next set of figures are released”.
To view the latest NISRA occupancy figures in full click HERE
A spokesperson for Newry Mourne and Down District Council said: “Hotel room occupancy in the Newry Mourne and Down region is up 3% points (to 58% occupancy) for the period of January to July 2016, compared to the same period last year.
“Although bed occupancy in B&Bs, guest houses and guest accommodation remained low at 17%, the occupancy grew 4% points during the first seven months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
“These indications of modest growth within the tourism accommodation sector are reinforced by feedback from tourism businesses locally that shows some signs of improved visitor numbers from the South of Ireland since June 2016, given the favourable Euro-Pound sterling exchange rate.
“Whilst we welcome these positive indicators, we recognise more work is required to attract greater numbers of out-of-state visitors to stay overnight and spend money in the region, and on that basis Tourism NI is currently developing a new Tourism Strategy for Newry, Mourne and Down which aims to significantly grow the tourism sector here to 2020.
“Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Tourism Strategy consultation workshops will be held in September with the information on dates available on:
