Mayor Elisha McCallion
VISIT Derry, in partnership with Derry City & Strabane District Council, Foyle Port and the Loughs Agency are geared up to commence a busy year of marketing the destination and this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival, starting with exhibiting at the London Boat Show, 8th – 17th January 2016.
The show is a must visit event on the sailing industry calendar and will attract over 100,000 visitors throughout the course of the 10 days.
The countdown is on to the highly anticipated Clipper Round the World Yacht Race stopover and Foyle Maritime Festival which will be hosted in the city from 9th – 17th July 2016 and the London Boat Show is the ideal platform to kick start the festival’s promotional campaign to a captive audience with a keen interest in sailing.
Aoife McHale, Business & Leisure Tourism Officer at Visit Derry says: “Interest from the sailing industry continues to grow year upon year and exhibiting at the London Boat Show is an excellent opportunity to promote the our idyllic location, linking UNESCO World Heritage Site the Giant’s Causeway with the spectacular scenery of Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way, as well as our close proximity to Scotland.
“Visiting sailors can enjoy a wide range of activities including guided tours of the 17th century walled city, museums and cultural experiences as well as a fantastic events calendar. 2016 has been themed as ‘Year of Food and Drink’ and we certainly offer our visitors plenty of places to refuel after a busy days sailing!”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Elisha McCallion says the London Boat Show provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the festival and the city and district as a tourism and maritime destination.
“The Boat Show attracts a huge audience of people who are interested in maritime activity and is the ideal location for us to promote our tourism offering, our maritime facilities and our up and coming Foyle Maritime Festival.”
John Pollock, CEO Loughs Agency, welcomes the prospect of Clipper returning to the Foyle, pleased that “the event will capitalise on Loughs Agency’s investment in pontoon facilities in the city centre as well as at Greencastle”.
Captain Bill McCann, Harbour Master at Foyle Port also commented: “There is no doubt that the city’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Stopover and Foyle Maritime Festival has firmly established itself as one of the best in-port events on the global Clipper circuit.
“We look forward to welcoming the race and festival back to Foyle Port Marina this summer.”
