60 | THE LOCAL TOURIST
www.nitravelnews.com Ballard’s Ultimate Belfast Quest
The renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-at - Large a
number
made of
attempts to find the ship.
He
made his first expedition in October 1977 with deep sea salvage vessel Seaprobe, but it ended in failure when the drilling probe pipe broke.
in the years that followed,
Dr Robert Ballard, the man who famously discovered the wreck of RMS Titanic, visited Belfast on 31st March to see the new gallery, Ballard’s Quest, which was unveiled earlier in the month in his honour as part of the reimagined Titanic Experience.
The visit marked Titanic Belfast’s
11th birthday and gave Dr Ballard the opportunity to view
Quest
Ballard’s which
explores his incredible mission to locate the wreck of the famous ship 73 years after she sank.
It’s like coming home. This has obviously changed my life and it made a lot of things possible so I am very thankful...
and devised new technologies and search strategies to help in the quest. In 1982, he approached the US Navy about Argo, the new deep sea underwater robot craft he had created – and his search for Titanic. Whilst they weren’t interested i
n
financing a search for the lost liner, they were interested
in finding two of their missing
Untapped Mid Ulster Tour Reveals Authentic Experiences in the Giant Heart of Loughinsholin
LOUGHINSHOLIN, the Mid Ulster Tourism Cluster, has launched its Untapped Mid Ulster four day tour in collaboration with Croga Tours showcasing the generations of rich heritage and traditions found in the region. Set in the giant heart of Mid Ulster
Loughinsholin is an ancient Barony in Northern Ireland that can be traced back to 12th Century. Te Loughinsholin cluster is supported by Invest Northern Ireland through its Collaborative Growth Programme and consists of 14 businesses working together to showcase the authentic and unique people and experiences in the region. As well as a passion for excellence and a desire to deliver tourism experiences and accommodations that are truly memorable to all visitors. Travelling by a luxury coach, the Untapped
Mid Ulster four day tour package includes 3-nights’ accommodation, entrance/admission to all attractions and activities, lunch and dinner each day and experienced tour guides for the whole tour. Te exciting itinerary features: Seamus Heaney
HomePlace & Exhibition, lunch and traditional Irish Music Session in the Taphouse bar and restaurant, Seamus Heaney Openground, stays at Glenavon House Hotel, dinner at Friels Bar
& Restaurant, Te Emigrants Tale walking tour, lunch and beer tasting in Friels Bar and Restaurant with Heaney Farmhouse Brewery, Glenshane Country Farm, Seasonal Foraging and bread making at Ballyscullion Park with Bakehouse NI, dinner at Walsh’s Hotel, River Bann morning boat tour, Lough Neagh Fishery and Ardtara House Aſternoon Tea. Richard Mulholland, from Ballyscullion Park
& chair of Loughinsholin Tourism Cluster said: “On behalf of Loughinsholin we are very excited to launch the Untapped Mid Ulster four day tour of the region in collaboration with Croga Tours. Te tour will take visitors on an unforgettable journey as well as showcase the rich, diverse and authentic experiences in this wonderful area. Te aim and focus of Louginsholin is to showcase all the businesses involved, work collaboratively on new innovations, and drive ongoing development. Our association with Croga Tours will certainly help us to achieve that. We look forward to welcoming our first visitors on the tour at the end of March and hope to welcome many more in the years ahead.” Jim Quinn, from Croga Tours, added: “Croga
Tours is pleased to work with the Loughinsholin cluster to develop the Untapped Mid Ulster four
day tour. Visitors can relax, recline and enjoy the views from our luxury coach as well as enjoy visiting the wonderful attractions, locations and experiences that awaits within this culturally rich and diverse region. It is guaranteed to be a truly memorable experience that will take people right into the giant heart of this beautiful place.” Tour prices are being launched with an
introductory price of £595 per person for B&B accommodation and all lunches, dinners and activities. For further details and to book the tour visit Croga Tours on
www.crogatours.com. Follow Croga Tours on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @crogatours.
City Tourism Growth Expected to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels- Visit Belfast
However, Dr
Ballard didn’t give up hope
submarines and agreed to finance his search if he first searched and investigated the two sunken submarines – which he did over a period of two years. As part of his top secret mission, with just 12 days remaining at the end of the expedition to search for Titanic, Dr Ballard recovered the ship more than two miles beneath the waves of the North Atlantic on 1st September 1985 in what has become one of the world’s most historic and significant discoveries. Dr Robert Ballard said:
“It is fantastic to return to Titanic Belfast and to see it continuing to go from strength-to-strength 11 years on. This unique visitor attraction continues to lead the way in telling the story of Titanic in a special and respectful way whilst embracing innovative technology to ensure it continues to attract visitors
May 2023
VISIT Belfast, the destination marketing management organisation (DMMO) for the Belfast City Region, said its plans are on track to deliver around £120 million to the local economy this year through its sales, marketing and visitor servicing activity, marking a fresh growth milestone in the organisation’s almost 25-year history. Established in 1999 as the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau (BVCB) – a year after the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Visit Belfast is a not-for-profit public, private and community partnership focused on driving city and regional tourism growth through business events, leisure breaks and cruise. In an update to industry partners and stakeholders at St Colmgall’s, which recently opened after a £7.2 million restoration and transformation for community,
cultural,
business and tourism use, Visit Belfast outlined its plans for the final year of its three-year Rebuilding City Tourism 2021-24 strategy.
Speaking at the event, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Christina Black, said: “Over recent years, every sector of our economy and society has felt the impact of a variety of factors beyond our control, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Yet, despite the challenges which presented in 2020, tourism IS recovering – thanks to the efforts and commitment of Visit Belfast working in partnership with Belfast City Council and the wider tourism industry. Belfast City Council’s 10-year Tourism Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for the future of city tourism and we will continue to work collaboratively to achieve its potential across the key pillars; grow, experience and sustain.”
position,
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