AQO 2013/17-22 Oral question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy to outline the support her Department will provide to hotels to prepare for the return of overseas visitors.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 29 April 2021
- Answered
- Oral
- After due date
- Tabled
- 29 April 2021
- Answer due by
- 10 May 2021
- Answered
- 11 May 202112 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
Answer
My Department has worked closely with the hotel sector in preparation for re-opening, and the return of overseas visitors.
Hotels have been involved in Tourism NI international marketing and sales activity programmes, such as Meet the Buyer, delivered in partnership with Tourism Ireland. More events are planned for 2021.
My Department and Tourism NI have also worked with the hotel sector to produce a ‘Working Safely during COVID-19 for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses’ guide which explains how businesses can keep guests as safe as possible.
Tourism NI introduced ‘We’re Good To Go’, a COVID safety accreditation, in 2020. Members are automatically eligible for the World Travel and Tourism Council international ‘Safe Travels’ stamp.
Tourism NI has also worked with the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation to create a webinar to help hotels prepare to reopen, and to outline available marketing support.
I have asked the Tourism Recovery Steering Group to develop a Phase Two Tourism Recovery Action Plan, which I hope to publish shortly. The Action Plan will include a range of measures aimed at supporting the tourism and hospitality industry, including the hotel sector, to drive demand and attract visitors from the domestic, Republic of Ireland and overseas markets.