SDLP Economy spokesperson Sinead McLaughlin has accused DUP Economy Minister Diane Dodds of ignoring opportunties to boost all-Ireland tourism.
She was responding to an article in The Irish Times by Eoin Burke-Kennedy who state that “linking the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast into a single tourist trail that exploits the natural beauty of two of our island’s most spectacularly beautiful landscapes is both obvious and enormously economically beneficial”.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The primary beneficiary of that linkage would be the city of Derry, where the two routes connect.
“Derry has the worst unemployment and poverty in the North, so we could do with the help.
“Ireland’s Programme for Government recognises the value of that potential linkage.
“Yet Northern Ireland’s DUP Economy Minister Diane Dodds rejects the idea, on the basis that connecting the two would devalue Northern Ireland’s own tourism branding.
“This is a clear breach of the Belfast Agreement’s commitment to cross-border co-operation in the promotion of tourism.
“It is sadly not unique for the Irish Government to show greater commitment to the northwest of Northern Ireland than does the DUP. But it is disgraceful, nonetheless.”
Ms McLaughlin recently asked Minister Dodds whether Stormont’s tourism recovery steering group intended to bring forward a plan and programme to connect the Causeway coast and Wild Atlantic Way in terms of joint promotion, other joint marketing and route signage.
Minister Dodds queried the economic rationale of doing so while raising concerns about whether the North’s brand might be diluted under such a joint initiative.
“The economic rationale for creating a new coastal tourist trail linking the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route would need to be fully understood and have the agreement of the industry, Tourism Northern Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the local authorities on both sides of the Border,” Dodds said.
“In addition, the implementation of a new coastal tourist trail would have to be undertaken in a way that makes sense from a consumer perspective and executed in a way that would not dilute the new Northern Ireland brand [Embrace a Giant Spirit] or convey conflicting messages to the tourism industry, trade operators or consumers,” she added.
