Belfast Tourism Forum

Our aim

Working in partnership we will deliver the authentic European City experience by developing and co-ordinating our cultural, natural and commercial assets to attract a greater number of visitors to the city and maximise the economic benefits for Belfast and Northern Ireland.

About the forum

The Belfast Tourism Forum is a dedicated group of Northern Ireland's most influential tourism professionals who are overseeing the implementation of the Belfast Tourism Integrated Strategic Framework 2010-2014 and ensuring that Belfast is a must visit destination.

Tourism is everybody's business and a key focus of the forum has been on ensuring that the enormous opportunities for Belfast, arising from the opening of Titanic Belfast and a year of globally inspiring events and festivals throughout 2012 and beyond, are maximised and benefit communitites across the city.

Download a list of organisations involved in the Belfast Tourism Forum (Word - 360KB)

The forum is focussed on generating economic success throughout the city and across Northern Ireland by supporting the development of strong product, delivering a quality, authentic visitor experience, increasing visitor numbers and encourgaing visitors to spend more money.

The implementation action plan has ambitious targets which include:

increasing visitor numbers by 40% to 2.38 million per year in 2014
increasing visitor spend by 20% to £294 million in 2014
increasing 'bed-nights' (the hotel industry's measurement of occupancy) by 20% to 4.7 million per year in 2014.

Issues discussed

The forum meets quarterly throughout the year to ensure that the action plan is on track, challenge and generate debate through the discussion of issues focussed on delivring visitor inspired city . Recent topics include:

the marketing campaigns being led by Tourism Ireland and Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau to attract visitors from the GB and international markets

an overview of future major events which will help put Belfast on the global map

industry engagement and communications strategy - discussion on how to ensure that people working in the city - from transport providers to hospitality, service and retail staff - are fully trained and knowledgeable about the city and its products.

Success to date

The forum has overseen a number a major tourism initiatives including:

The launch of the Belfast City Visitor Pass
Development of a 2012 Events Plan, which includes a coordinated series of events across the city to mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic
The 2012 marketing and communications campaigns
The City Dressing plan
Motorway signage from M1 and M2 for Titanic Quarter and key attractions
Developing a 'Titanic Trail' and signage to link the city centre to Titanic Quarter, with supporting maps, mobile technology and visitor literature and passes
Development of Belfast's wider maritime heritage
Developing city tourism products, including supporting guided tours

More information

Belfast Tourism Forum ezine

If you would like to receive regular information on the work of the Belfast Tourism Forum via email, please fill in our online form

To find out more, please contact:

Wendi Kane
Telephone: 028 9032 0202 extension 3489
Email: culture@belfastcity.gov.uk