Tourism hopes for Lecale and Downpatrick

Tourism hopes for Lecale and Downpatrick

29 June 2016

DOWNPATRICK and Lecale could be the major winners of a new joint initiative being spearheaded by Tourism NI and Newry, Mourne and Down Council, according to a senior politician.

Tourism NI has seconded one of its senior officials to work alongside the local authority to help promote and develop tourism across the district over the next 12 months.

The new initiative has been welcomed by councillor Dermot Curran who believes more can be done to explore and develop St Patrick’s link with Downpatrick and Lecale and help promote opportunities for new business ventures, including hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation.

The Tourism NI official will be looking at maximising the area’s tourism potential which is at the heart of the local authority’s economic plans for the district.

Councillor Curran said the official will be looking at ways of creating new investment and job opportunities in the tourism sector and believes his appointment is good news.

“I have no doubt there are people who wish to play a part in the tourism industry via new bed and breakfast accommodation or other business ventures and I would encourage them to come forward with their business ideas,” he said.

“I believe there is great potential to provide new visitor accommodation in Ardglass and Downpatrick in particular as it is lacking in both locations. I was surprised to learn recently that four coaches of golfers arrive in Ardglass every week from Co Kerry and surely this is something we can exploit by providing somewhere for them to stay to help ensure a day trip turns into a two or three day stay,” he continued.

“There are many visitors from across the UK coming to our district and it is clear we need more hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation to meet what I believe is an increasing demand.”

Councillor Curran believes his home village of Ardglass has much to offer visitors and that new investment can attract even more of them.

“We need to focus on providing new accommodation. One of the major problems we have is that we do not have plethora of places for people to stay. As a result of this, the district is missing out in very important visitor spending power. We have Burford Lodge in Ardglass which is very popular with local people and visitors but we need more places like this,” he continued.

Councillor Curran said the district boasts a number of highly regarded restaurants and believes that if new accommodation is available, these particular businesses will reap the benefit.