No sign of downturn in US visitors

The UK market may have seen a downturn in US tourists but Northern Ireland is still experiencing a boom in visitor numbers from the States.

Continental Airlines Belfast-Newark flight has ever increasing inbound numbers of Americans wanting to sample the delights that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Continental Airlines began operating daily non-stop flights between Belfast International Airport and New York Newark, in May, 2005.

Since then the transatlantic service - the only year-round scheduled non-stop trans-Atlantic service from Northern Ireland and the first non-stop scheduled service ever to operate from Northern Ireland to the USA - has gone from strength to strength.

A weak dollar against the pound sterling has been blamed for the downturn in the number of American tourists visiting the UK this year.

According to Travelocity the UK's share of visitors from the US in 2007 is down almost ten per cent on last year.

But Bob Schumacher, Continental Airlines' Senior Director UK & Ireland, said: "US sales have continued to grow strongly year on year - in spite of a deteriorating exchange rate for our US travellers. In our third year of operation we are delighted to see the route maturing with strong sales at both ends of the route."

The current US dollar's exchange rate against the pound has worsened throughout the first six months of 2007.

The decline in US visitors is a potentially damaging one for the UK which relies heavily on US tourists more than visitors from any other country.

In June of this year, Tourism Minister Nigel Dodds touted Northern Ireland as the 'must-see' destination to top US travel media and professionals.

Mr Dodds said: "In recent years, overseas tourism to Northern Ireland has grown faster than tourism to Western Europe in general. In fact, in the period 2002-2006, revenue from overseas visitors grew by 36 per cent. Just last year, we attracted almost two million visitors, with 145,000 of those coming from North America.

"Not only has Northern Ireland become an exciting place to live right now but it is a wonderful place to visit. The warm welcome that characterises our people, our towns and cities, the accessibility of our living and ancient culture, and the beauty of our natural landscape, ensures anyone visiting Northern Ireland will have a truly memorable holiday."

Top guides such as Lonely Planet's Blue List tipped the Province as one of the top places to visit in the world.

Featured in the 'Go List' section - a chapter dedicated to detailing the hot destinations for the coming year, the Province was described as 'a buzz with life; the cities are pulsating, the economy is thriving and the people, the lifeblood that courses through the country, are in good spririts'.

Belfast is also mentioned in the same guide as one of the top ten 'Cities on the Rise'.

The flip side of the coin is that the US is experiencing a boom in holidaymakers from the UK, including Northern Ireland, because of the weak dollar. Recently, travellers were getting two dollars to the pound sterling for the first time in many years.