A dramatic drop in the number of people from the Republic visiting the North is a direct result of the ongoing flat protests, a Derry MLA has claimed.
Demonstrators at a flag protest in Derry.
Sinn Fein’s Maeve McLaughlin was speaking ahead of a loyalist demonstration taking place today at Belfast’s City Hall to mark the first anniversary of Belfast City Council’s decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag to designated days.
Following the council’s decision in December last year, violence erupted at a number of protests staged in the city and throughout the North although demonstrations in Derry passed off relatively peacefully.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said he believes the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is behind today’s protest.
Speaking at the Stormont Assembly during the week, he said: “I don’t have any doubt as to who’s organising this parade, this parade is being organised by the UVF. And it is being supported by elements within the Orange Order,” he said.
The organisers of today’s protest have ignored pleas from unionist and business leaders to call of the demonstration which is taken place on what traditionally is the busiest shopping day of the year.
Maeve McLaughlin said she “firmly” believed the 44% drop in visitors from the South could not be divorced from the ongoing flag protests.
Ms McLaughlin said: “This statistic is a stark indicator of the detrimental effect that the on-going flag protests are having on our economy in general but in particular the tourist sector.
“I am in no doubt that the major contributing factor for the 44% drop in visitors from the South in six months is the intimidating nature of these protests. The fact that the number of overseas visitors flatlined and the only area of increase was that from GB would tend to support this view.
“If unionist politicians are serious about marketing this part of Ireland as a welcoming and safe tourist destination, then it’s about time they not only unambiguously condemn these protests but use their influence to have them stopped.
“The qualified call by unionist politicians for organisers of this Saturday’s protest in Belfast to rethink their strategy is an abdication of leadership. They should be demanding in no uncertain terms that it be called off. The damage to the economy is unacceptable.
“I believe that the stubborn insistence in pursuing the failed ‘Brand Northern Ireland’ agenda is not only encouraging the mentality of the flag protesters but damaging our potential for growth in the tourism economy. We cannot afford a drop of 44% in visitors from anywhere but particularly from within this island because of people who continue to live in the past.
“However we see ourselves, there is no denying that, all around the world people see the island of Ireland and its people as a single entity. Those tasked with tourism promotion need to realise that reality.”
Ms McLaughlin concluded: It would greatly enhance our attractiveness to potential visitors if we accepted that there is far greater potential in promoting Ireland as a single destination for visitors, by marketing attractions such as the Giants Causeway, Dublin City, the Lakes of Fermanagh, the Cliffs of Moher and the Walls of Derry as a single tourist product”
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