FOCUS ON THE GREAT NORTHWEST
Derry-Londonderry – open for business as the city’s boat ‘comes in’!
HOW CLIPPER AND THE ʻNEW STORYʼ ARE MAKING WAVES AHEAD OF 2013 T
he Clipper Homecoming Festival is just the start of an 18‑month programme of activity in Derry‑Londonderry which is designed to tell its ʻnew storyʼ ahead of becoming UK City of Culture 2013. It is the first time that Northern Ireland has been represented in the Clipper World Race, which attracts a global audience of more than 460 million people and has seen the home boat attracting attention wherever it has dropped anchor.
Following in its wake has been the Derry‑ Londonderry City Delegation, whose aim in San Francisco, New York, Nova Scotia and Holland has been to showcase the North West, make international connections and renew links ahead of next year.
The city is also honoured to be one of the Clipper Raceʼs official host ports and the Derry‑ Londonderry Clipper crew will be welcomed back at the end of the final transatlantic stage of the race with the Clipper Homecoming Festival (June 29 ‒ July 8).
A huge programme of events has been organised for the city, including impressive welcome and farewell ceremonies, music, dancing, marine displays, water‑going activities and a seafood festival.
CEO of Derry City Council, Sharon OʼConnor said: “Derry~Londonderryʼs new story already shows the progress that has occurred in the city during 2012, with over £100 million being invested in city infrastructure.
“In welcoming thousands of visitors to our shores, we will reap rewards through economic and profile gain and the opportunity to accelerate the transformation of the city through a world class City of Culture 2013 year”. Among the advantages that the Derry‑ Londonderry delegation has been promoting is the fact that the city is the first in the UK and Ireland to have superfast broadband connections.
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“Weʼre getting our message out there that our city is the perfect location for investment and to do business,” added Ms OʼConnor. “Our city is leading the UK by developing superfast broadband connections and is the only city in Ireland and the UK to offer one hundred per cent availability of fibre optic broadband connectivity to homes and businesses at speeds doubling to 80Mbps. “We also have a head start on other cities in that our international communications network is Project Kelvin, a €30m investment linking the city via a submarine cable to a 22‑ mile offshore cable at Hibernia North Atlantic, offering the perfect opportunity to build and expand international operations while reducing costs.
“Furthermore, 40 per cent of our population is under 35 so we have an obvious talent pool of energetic youths with vision and ambition. We took full advantage of these attributes to ensure we leverage the full benefit of our visits in the US, Canada and Holland.” Odhran Dunne of Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau said that the business development team is encouraged by the interest and the response wherever they went. “We have a proven appeal as a destination for tourism and the added bonus of the UK City of Culture 2013 designation brings out a new dimension that we believe will strengthen our international appeal,” he said. Roy Devine, commissioner of the Londonderry Port, said they had been enthused by the size and response of the Ex‑ Pat community, who retain a connection and belief in the city.
“Great plans and significant investments have been made to ensure a warm welcome for the Clipper team,” he said. “We look forward to their return, which will be marked by a great celebration in the city. Itʼs sure to be a memorable occasion!”
Photo: Derry~Londonderry trade delegation (including town clerk and chief executive Sharon OʼConnor, Mark Nagurski from Digital Derry and councillor Martin Reilly) with the Legenderry crew on the Derry~Londonderry yacht in San Francisco Bay
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From public realm improvements, opening of new event and community spaces, business skills programs, volunteer initiatives and public and private sector partnerships,
Derry~Londonderry is counting down to world class events in 2012 and 2013.
Some of the new events added to the Cityʼs event calendar this year include the Celtic Film and Media Festival, the Peace One Day Concert on June 21 and the North Atlantic Fiddle Festival. And while there is no place like home for the Diaspora community it is hoped the renewed developments in the city and business growth in the region may also generate new reasons for this community to reconnect with the North West of Ireland and for increased visitors. The city already has positive appeal for US tourism with over 20 per cent of all visitors to the tourist information centre in the city from North America. The US visitor spending profile on average is higher than those from other countries and with the City of Culture in 2013 there is a growing strength to the cityʼs international appeal.
• The Clipper Derry~Londonderry International Trade Programme is part funded by the European Reional Development Fund (ERDF) under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.
• More information at
www.derrycity.gov.uk/clipper or follow us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/derrylondonderryclipper.
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