TOURISM is ready to grow more quickly than any other sector in Northern Ireland if an integrated strategy is put in place, according to a report by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF).
Up to 20,000 new jobs could be created if the Northern market's growth emulates that of the Republic, according to the report, Blueprint for Tourism, which will be presented at the North's first Strategic Hospitality Conference, to be held in Belfast today.
The survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers assesses the current state of the sector and the extent of the opportunities as yet unrealised within it. It makes recommendations for a tourism policy that could be included in a programme for government.
Tourism accounts for only 1.9 per cent of Northern Ireland's GDP, compared with a figure of 7 per cent for the Republic. Employment in the sector is 34,500, compared with 120,000 in the South. However, the survey also reveals that post-ceasefire visitor growth is 20 per cent year on year, compared to 11 per cent in the Republic.
The blueprint has been described as a response to the lack of an existing integrated policy for developing tourism. It calls for co-ordination between Strategy 2010 and the wider Northern Ireland economic strategy that will be announced this week in the Executive's first domestic programme for government statement.
As part of its recommendations, the NIHF is calling for greater financial incentives for the industry and major investment in training and labour supply. NIHF president Mr Howard Hastings has also called for greater ministerial commitment to the tourism industry, including enhanced recognition at executive level.
"Those in the tourism industry here are envious of the economic plan in the South with its `joined-up Government', where all Government departments are linked with tourism in mind," Mr Hastings told The Irish Times.
While the timing is right for the North's tourism market to develop to its full potential, those in the industry need the right product to offer tourists, he added.
"While visitor numbers have increased, the proportion of pure holiday-makers - those spending all or part of their time here - is significantly lower than in the South," said Mr Hastings.
Providing the right product would require a sound structure, economic flair, new thinking, financial support and a partnership between private and public sectors, he said.
"A lot of strategic investment has to be made. This would work better if it is private sector-led, but the private sector will not do it alone. Private/public partnership is the best way forward," he said. Today's conference will also address whether the Northern Ireland Tourist Board should be given a more prominent role in the forthcoming all-Ireland tourism company, part of the cross-Border arrangement between the two administrations.
