Tourism chief hopes G8 summit will showcase Northern Ireland

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

The G8 summit will offer an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland to the world, a tourism chief has claimed.

Tourism Ireland is undertaking a promotional drive to coincide with the summit in Co Fermanagh in an effort to capitalise on the news focus on the region.

Officials are also hoping to engage with the hundreds of international media journalists who are travelling to the area to cover the political meeting.

Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland said: "Hosting the G8 Summit offers an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Fermanagh and Northern Ireland, as well as to promote Northern Ireland as a top destination for hosting high level events and conferences.

"The international media profile accompanying the G8 is enormous and the ensuing publicity will raise the profile of Northern Ireland to help us achieve our goal of boosting visitor numbers. Tourism Ireland is focused on exploiting the tourism potential offered by the G8 to the fullest extent possible."

Tourism Ireland officials have invited a range of travel and lifestyle writers to Co Fermanagh prior to and after the G8.

Their itineraries will also take them to Londonderry to experience events associated with the city's year as UK City of Culture, as well as stops at the Giant's Causeway on the scenic North Coast and the £97 million Titanic themed visitor attraction in Belfast, the city where the doomed liner was built.

The organisation has also been engaging with conference and events organisers to showcase the region's potential as well as promoting Co Fermanagh at international travel fairs.

PA