27/05/2009 - rish flock north for holidays
A 25% increase in the number of holidaymakers visiting Northern Ireland from the Republic boosted tourism revenue by almost £50 million last year, it has been revealed.
Tourism minister Arlene Foster said the strong euro had been attracting southern consumers in recent months.
"This is very positive news and a welcome boost to the industry and the wider economy," she added.
"The increase in visitor numbers has exceeded expectations for growth in 2008 and the statistics reinforce that Northern Ireland has a unique and appealing range of things to see and do."
In 2008, 367,000 trips were made by residents of the Republic of Ireland to the north, with revenues rising by 16%.
Ms Foster said that long-term growth for the tourism industry will come from those markets closer to home.
"Short-term opportunities are available through the strong euro; however, to maximise the benefits in the future we must continue to promote an excellent and value-for-money experience across Northern Ireland."
The rise comes after the Northern Ireland Tourist Board invested heavily in marketing domestically and within the Republic.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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