Friendliness is key to economic development

THE friendliness of people in Limavady could be a vital part of the economic redevelopment of the Borough, a report from a major tourism organisation has stated.

If tourism in the Limavady Borough and the rest of Northern Ireland is to grow, as its elected representatives hope it will, the general friendliness and welcoming nature of the Borough’s citizens is going to be vital – according to a draft action plan for tourism.

In the monthly development report at Limavady Borough Council last night, the Draft Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism Area Plan 2012-2017, was presented to elected members.

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The Causeway Coast and Glens tourism area generates around a quarter of all tourism revenue in Northern Ireland, with an estimated annual economic impact of both day and staying visitors is just short of half a billion pounds, at £449m every year.

The Executive Summary of the Draft Plan states: “Tourism is recognised as one of the Causeway Coast and Glens1 region’s major opportunities to contribute to raising the profile and image of the area, while also adding significant value to Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.”

It continues: “The plan builds on the overall vision for Northern Ireland – to grow tourism earnings to £1 billion and increase visitors to 4.5 million by 2020.

“The plan sets out the ambitions for the Causeway Coast and Glens’ tourism industry over the next five years to 2017; it provides a focus for the development of the region’s tourism potential through vibrant public/private sector partnership; and it identifies the industry’s key objectives for the next five years within the broader context of Northern Ireland’s competitive performance and the likely future of tourism, both nationally and globally.”

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Interestingly, in a section entitled ‘2012 – 2017: Where to next?’, the draft plan for tourism in the region states that it is vital for both local communities and businesses to provide “a warm welcome reinforced by the highest standards of customer care”, something the report states is one of the “core aspects of visitor expectations and not optional extras.”

This means the overall friendliness of people in the Limavady Borough, as well as the rest of the Causeway Coast and Glens tourism region, is vital if the level of revenue generated is to be increased beyond the half a billion pounds currently being spent by visitors every year.