Progress and hopes

The Olympic torch will shine on Northern Ireland in 2012 but agendaNi has found that most tourism projects are running behind schedule.

Tight purse strings have made promoting Northern Ireland as a “must-visit” destination a difficult task and very few government targets have been met.

The Programme for Government pledged to invest £229 million in culture, arts and leisure infrastructure through a variety of projects. However, projected figures estimate that £152 million will have been invested by March 2011.

A DCAL spokesman explained that the original target of £229 million comprised £69 million for a multi-sports stadium, which will not be completed by 2011.

One of the main priorities to boost tourism was increasing the number of out-of-state visitors as well as the revenue they generate. It was hoped that the province would attract 2.5 million visitors by 2011 and revenue of £520 million but the economic downturn has had caused problems.

Figures from the Tourist Board show that in 2009 there were 1,918,000 visitors and £337 million of revenue was generated. While end-of-year figures are not available for 2010, statistics for January to September show that there were 1.072 million visitors from Great Britain and overseas and £204 million was generated. Residents in the South also made 80,000 trips between January and March 2010.

Another target in the Programme for Government was to complete all five of the signature projects by 2011. However, a Tourist Board spokeswoman explained that the £93 million Titanic project is not expected to be complete until April 2012.

Also, the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre will not completed until 2012. Phase 1 of the Walled City project in Derry has been completed, including visitor signage and the regeneration of tourism attractions, but work is just beginning on its lighting strategy.

The signature project in the Mournes is “continuing to develop”. Signage for the coastal route will be finished during 2011- 2012.

Under the Saint Patrick and Christian Heritage project, the 92-mile signed driving route from Bangor to Armagh has been completed.

Between April and December 2010, almost all waterways and navigations were kept open (99.7 per cent), which was higher than the 95 per cent target.

Ministers hope the games will bring a surge of visitors to the province, including some athletes but time is running short to meet targets.

The document sets goals of attracting 10 nations competing in pre-games training. Some 27 venues here have been included on a list of suitable sites for Olympic and Paralympic training camps but so far no- one has signed up.

When asked if the Programme for Government targets are likely to be met, a DCAL spokesman said: “Few will know whether or not they have qualified to take part in the games, and therefore selection of training camp destinations will not be known for some time.”

He added that SportNI is working with governing bodies and key figures in sport “to develop contacts in order to run events”.

It has been confirmed that the Olympic torch will travel around Northern Ireland for four days and a town or city will host a celebration on each of the four evenings. While the towns and cities have signed agreements, their identity is confidential. “The locations for the evening celebrations will be announced in spring 2011, after which work will begin on the route in between these locations,” commented the spokesman.