Mournes Needs Better Marketing Says UKIP Rep

“The Northern Ireland Tourist Board simply hasn’t been robust enough in pushing the area as a major tourist attraction. There are cruise ships that call into Belfast throughout the year that are an hours drive from the Mournes. The tours on offer to the cruise ship passengers are almost exclusively restricted to Belfast.  These visitors should be actively sold the beauty of places like Newcastle and Silent valley and the entire South Down area. “The Mourne area boasts some of Northern Ireland’s most unique natural scenery That is all but hidden from international tourists. I believe a radical re-branding of the area is needed and perhaps the Mournes as the Ulster Highlands. The NITB need to give the Mournes area the recognition it deserves and not concentrate all its resources in the North Coast and Giants Causeway. “Tour buses based in Newcastle would benefit tour companies and local traders if the Mournes were being marketed probably. The Mournes with the right help could achieve higher national recognition and tourist potential without the added bureaucracy of a National Park.”]]>