Tourism a key ecomonic driver
Tourism contributes £503 million to Northern Ireland’s economy each year.
- It plays a key role in the economy because of the revenue it generates and the employment opportunities it provides.
- Out-of-state (non-Northern Ireland resident) visitors spent £357 million and domestic tourism generated £146 million.
- Around 60,000 people were employed in the tourism and leisure sector in June 2006
- Since 1998 when the Good Friday Agreement
was signed, visitor numbers have increased by one third. In 2005 more people, almost two million, visited Northern Ireland than actually live here. The main tourism markets are Great Britain, from where more than one million visitors come each year, as well as the Republic of Ireland, Europe, North America and Australasia. The new direct flights from Europe/North America to Belfast are contributing to this significant growth.
