Tourists need morethan historic church and castle in town

Carrick needs more than a historic castle and church to attract more tourists, according to a senior tourism official.

RJ Frizzel, general manager, of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, told a meeting of Carrick Borough Council, in February 1963, that the board was “prepared to give advice and financial assistance regarding tourism schemes in the town but he told councillors: “It is up to you to think them up and then we will help to promote and publicise them.”

Mr. Frizzel had been defending the Tourist Board’s promotion of the borough.

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At the previous month’s meeting, Ernest Burton had referred to an “omission” of Carrick from a map published by the Tourist Board in a Dublin newspaper.

Mr. Frizzel told councillors that the map was “of no great importance” despite “being put there to show Northern Ireland’s coastline”.

He stated that because of Carrick’s “historic castle and church” it got “as much publicity as any other town, if not more”.

He went on to show members pictures of Carrick which had appeared in clients’ brochures internationally.

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He pointed out that one client in particular had published an almost full colour picture of the castle and harbour.

However, Mr. Frizzel told the council that were not sufficient attractions in the town to “hold” tourists who come to see the castle or church.