Collaboration for further Tourism growth explored at Visitor Experience and Attractions conference
Top Tourism decision-makers meet in Hillsborough Castle
Tuesday, 19 November, 2024: Over 60 top tourism and visitor attraction decision-makers are gathering in historic Hillsborough Castle today to explore opportunities for further visitor growth through enhanced collaboration.
The conference hosted by AVEA, the Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions, will explore ways to strengthen links and foster cooperation between the many great places to visit (museums, galleries, heritage buildings, cathedrals, natural landscapes) and other immersive visitor experiences in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland.
Supported by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, the AVEA conference will highlight the role and contribution of visitor attractions and experiences in the overall tourism ecology and focus on some of the ways visitor attractions across the island can work together to optimise benefits for tourism, communities and local authorities.
Opening the conference, Economy Minister, Conor Murphy said: “Today’s AVEA conference allows those responsible for promoting our world-renowned visitor attractions to focus on the opportunities that can be created through shared all-island knowledge, collaboration and learning around visitor attractions. Visitor attractions are at the core of our tourism offering and one of the main reasons why over 2 million overseas visitors chose to visit the north of Ireland last year. It is symbolic this conference is taking place in Hillsborough Castle, a place that is not only one of our leading attractions but has also played an important role in our history. Tourism has really flourished under the peace process, delivering an economic peace dividend, and opening up our society to different cultures.”
The conference programme also highlights distinctive case studies as positive examples of collaboration. These includecooperation between National Museums NI (presented by NMNI CEO, Kathryn Thomson), and the National Library of Ireland (presented by Dr Audrey Whitty, NLI Director), and between Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (presented by Carol Corvan, Head of Corporate Services) and Birr Castle Demesne (presented by Grainne O’Malley, special projects consultant). Other speakers include Heather McLachlan, Regional Director – NI, National Trust, and Michael Counahan, Director of CHL & Associates.
The Chair of AVEA, Anne O’Donoghue remarked: “Collaboration and advocacy are the lifeblood of AVEA, the Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions, and have been key to our success since the association was establishedin 2017 by the tourism sector. What better setting for instigating purposeful conversations with colleagues in Northern Ireland, exchanging learnings and ideas, and developing constructive dialogue around our shared culture, heritage and stories than historic Hillsborough Castle.”
Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Laura McCorryadded: “It is fitting that an important conversation around collaboration and the sharing of expertise should take place here at Hillsborough – not only as a place of significance in our history, but as a visitor attraction primed to receive investment as part of the Belfast City and Growths Deal. Tourism has been central to our success since opening our doors to visitors in 2019, and the wider tourism sector benefits when we exchange ideas, industry knowledge and success stories.”
Attendance at the conference included CEOs and senior representatives from Tourism Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland, local authorities, visitor attractions and the wider tourism industry.
In closing remarks, Catherine Flanagan, CEO of AVEA remarked: “We are delighted with the success of AVEA’s first industry conference in Northern Ireland and hope to make this an annual event as part of our rolling programme of dialogue, information share and exchange with the wider visitor attractions community here. Visitor Attractions play a crucial role in helping to create magical memories for overseas and domestic holidaymakers.”
ENDS
