Tourism in Antrim and Newtownabbey
The formation of the new Council has given focus to a growing and economically important tourism sector in the area.
The Borough boasts an extensive portfolio of tourism attractions, including the majestic Antrim Castle Gardens, Loughshore in Newtownabbey, Antrim Lough Shore Park on the shores of Lough Neagh, as well as three performing arts venues and Museum at The Mill which invites visitors of all ages to explore the history and heritage of Mossley Mill.
The White House, the oldest building in Newtownabbey, nestled on the Northern Shore of Belfast Lough for over 400 years, was gifted to the Council in 2015 and has now been restored into a beautiful visitor centre and multi-purpose space.
Large scale events including Circuit of Ireland and Garden Show Ireland have showcased the Borough, welcoming regional and national audiences. Upcoming events including the Northern Ireland Festival of Cycling, featuring a superb Street Velodrome, Armed Forces Day as well as the Ulster Pipe Band Championships, will continue to attract a wealth of tourism and culture to the Borough. An excellent range of hotels offer visitors a variety and choice of high quality accommodation. Recent figures show a growth in bed nights as the area becomes an increasingly popular destination for visitors seeking to explore the rich cultural and heritage attractions that the Borough has to offer.
Antrim and Newtownabbey is served by some of the best road, rail and air transportation links and systems in Northern Ireland. The M2 motorway gives quick, safe access to all the major points of entry including Belfast Harbour, the Port of Larne, Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport. The Borough is a gateway to the Causeway Coastal Route, set against a dramatic coastal backdrop, with spectacular views of the Irish Sea.
The Borough attracts a significant 212,000 visitors annually and a new tourism brand has been developed to reflect the diverse and unique range of tourism experiences that visitors can enjoy and can expect. The brand’s strapline ‘It’s In Our Nature’ encapsulates three key tourism themes: Outdoors & Nature, History & Heritage and Loughs & Waterways and reflects the professional and memorable customer service experience that local tourism providers offer and the welcome that people can expect.
Developing the physical accessibility of the Borough is a key priority for the future and the Council welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with the private sector and public bodies such as Transport NI and the new government departments of Infrastructure, the Economy and Communities to deliver improvements and create new opportunities. The location of Belfast International Airport within the Borough is strategically significant for the Borough, welcoming 4.4 million visitors to Northern Ireland every year, with the potential to attract new industrial and commercial investment around the 100 acre airport estate. The recent expansion of airlines, routes and job announcements has been welcomed by the Council which appreciates the positive impact these announcements have had on the local economy. The partnership with Visit Belfast at Belfast International Airport has led to the Council promoting tourism in the airport arrivals section, allowing us to greet and warmly welcome visitors to the Borough. The Council is working with the local tourism industry through training and tourism masterclasses and a digital business skills programme to help ensure that the local area can maximise the great opportunities being created.
Antrim and Newtownabbey continues to invest in the tourism and leisure offering throughout the Borough from its leisure centres and golf courses as well as attractions around Lough Neagh and Belfast Lough. One regionally significant visitor attraction in the planning stage is a new Gateway Centre at Antrim Lough Shore Park which is expected to become a regional landmark and serve as a ‘honey pot’ attraction for visitors to Lough Neagh, one of Northern Ireland’s most important natural assets. It will be enjoyed by residents and overseas visitors to the Borough who use the park for water based and outdoor activities and also those who just want to relax and enjoy the superb facilities and natural, picturesque surroundings.
A café/restaurant overlooking the lough will provide magnificent views and a high quality catering service to customers visiting the Lough Neagh Gateway Centre, with an emphasis on serving a food and beverage menu that takes advantage of local fresh produce. The provision of outdoor activities will contribute to developing the Lough Shore Park as a premier leisure and visitor destination complementing the existing popular caravan park which attracts 2,127 bookings annually from throughout Ireland, Great Britain, Europe and beyond.
A further opportunity has emerged to develop the tourism product of the new Borough. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) recently announced a £2.58 million grant to manage and conserve the cultural, natural and built heritage of Lough Neagh through a Landscape Partnership Scheme to be managed by the Lough Neagh Partnership. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has agreed to provide the Lough Neagh Partnership with substantial match funding for the scheme which will run over five years from April 2016 to March 2021 and will deliver 27 integrated projects around the Lough Shore area with a combined budget of £3.5 million. The project is great news for the local economy, providing training for 240 people, five full-time jobs and 200 volunteering places.
With a new tourism brand, improved accessibility and a growing tourism product, visitors can enjoy the gardens and castles, spectacular scenery and ancient landscapes as well as high profile events and an excellent range of quality accommodation. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council believes the future is bright for the area’s tourism sector and ‘it’s in our nature’ to welcome visitors to the area and ensure they form memories that will last a lifetime.
Paul Kelly
T: 028 9034 0000
paul.kelly@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk
