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ISSUE 302 | JULY/AUGUST 2019 VOTE AND WIN NOMINATE YOUR TOP VISITOR ATTRACTION, TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE, TRAVEL AGENT, MULTIPLE BRANCH AND TRAVEL CONSULTANT - AND YOU COULD WIN ONE OF FIVE TOP PRIZES!
WIN An Overnight Stay in the Malmaison Hotel, Belfast See page 10
WIN An Overnight Stay in the Galgorm Resort & Spa See page 12
WIN An Overnight Stay in the George Best Hotel, Belfast See page 23
WIN An Overnight Stay in the Lough Erne Resort & Spa See page 26
WIN An Overnight Stay in the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa See page 28
CANADIAN SPECIFIC
Pressing need for direct Belfast-Toronto service?
T
RAVEL to and from Canada is more buoyant than ever - despite the fact that Northern Ireland still has no direct air service. Ten years after Globespan and Zoom Airlines dropped out of the market here, even Toronto, with its large Ulster migrant population, still cannot be accessed by air directly from Belfast.
Meanwhile, major gateways now served from Dublin include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax, Hamilton and Calgary. More than 525,000 passengers travelled to Canada from Dublin Airport in 2018 and due to this Dublin has now increased the number of routes and services to Canada to deal with the surge in passenger numbers.
Currently there is a phenomenal 39 - yes 39 - fl ights a week from Dublin to Canada with airlines such as Westjet, Air Canada, Norwegian, Aer Lingus and Air Transat. East Belfast politician Jim Rodgers, who has been Belfast’s Lord Mayor twice as well as Deputy Mayor and Lord High Sheriff , is a leading critic of the lack of a direct service between Northern Ireland and Canada.
“There is a massive number of Northern Ireland people who continue to travel to visit friends and relatives in Canada, and indeed a large number who go for their annual holiday there because of the sightseeing opportunities and the friendliness of the people,” said Councillor Rodgers.
“There is absolutely no doubt that Canadians who fl y directly into Belfast will spend more time in the city and in the Province in general than those who don’t.
“When they arrive in Dublin, even though their eventual destination could be Northern Ireland, there is always the possibility they will spend more time than they intended
BY BRIAN OGLE
in the rest of Ireland. What we need is action to get a Belfast-Toronto service up and running again.” However Shane Clarke, Corporate Services Director for Tourism Ireland doesn’t think that a direct fl ight to Belfast from Canada is necessary.
He told Northern Ireland Travel News: “Market research has shown Canadians are happy to travel distances, and with Dublin Airport being only one hour away from Northern Ireland, this would not be a problem to most Canadian holidaymakers to travel onward to Northern Ireland.”
He added: “Tourism Ireland will continue to work and support any airline seeking a direct route from Canada to Belfast, but this is a commercial decision for any airline.” New research recently unveiled by Tourism Ireland revealed that the Canadian market had performed strongly for tourism to Northern Ireland in recent years.
In 2018, almost 66,000 Canadians visited Northern Ireland (+8 per cent on 2017), spending almost £19 million.
In fact, Canada was the fourth largest overseas tourism market for Northern Ireland in 2018 – in terms of visitors, holidaymakers and spend. Tourism Ireland says it undertook research of the Canadian market in the spring just passed, which examined the profi le of our current Canadian holidaymakers.
Tourism Ireland believes Canada has signifi cant potential for Northern Ireland tourism and after their recent research into this they have positioned the Province as a ‘must see’ part of an island of Ireland vacation for Canadian visitors.
For more, turn to Page 3 LEFT: Getting things off to a Tee! Well known
motorcyling and soccer broadcaster Liam Beckett with Leanne Rice, Golf Manager, Tourism NI and golfer Liam McKibben at Royal Portrush as the course awaits The 148th Open Championship
Open-ing Time on North Coast
AFTER a lapse of almost 70 years, the waiting is almost over... The much anticipated return of The Open to Royal Portrush is now just days away. The 148th Open at Royal Portrush is being widely welcomed as a showcase of epic proportions, not only for the golf club but for the town, for the Causeway Coast and Glens area and for Northern Ireland as a whole.
End of a road well travelled
BRIAN OGLE leaves Northern Ireland Travel News today after being associated with the paper since its launch 29 and a half years ago in January 1990.
His departure from the company as a Partner in the business and Editor of the paper comes as the 302nd issue is published for distribution to the Travel Trade and Travelling Public, and also of course for reading online. Since the paper was launched the business - Northern Ireland Travel News - has grown to include the Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism
As the battle for the famous Claret Jug and title of Champion Golfer of the Year unfolds on the North Coast, the sport’s greatest players, including Northern Ireland’s home-grown heroes, will be welcomed and inspired by approximately 215,000 local, national and international golf fans, who will relish every moment with passion and pride.
What to See This Summer: Pages 23-26
Awards, The Big Travel Trade Event, the Travel Golf Classic, regular e-shots to the Trade and Public, and a highly regarded website which includes all the latest breaking travel news.
Brian Ogle, who has been almost 55 years in newspapers, said: “I am so lucky to have spent my entire working life in journalism - there is no other occupation like it. It’s been a great journey, especially with Travel News. It was a hobby and a passion, not a job - at all…”
He added: “I want to wish everyone well at Northern Ireland Travel News for the future, and also want to compliment the Northern Ireland travel industry which has continued to fl ourish despite challenges in recent years. I also want to thank all our regular readers in the Travelling Public for their support over the years.”
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