It has everything the French love
Is there a real tourism dynamic in Northern Ireland today?
V. V. - Leisure tourism has seen strong growth since 2012 and the opening of Titanic Belfast. The MICE segment has been following this trend for the last two or three years, with a lot of American incentive groups in particular, but still very few French, even though requests are starting to come in. It's a destination in the making, in the midst of a renaissance. The French are looking for safe destinations that offer good value for money and are close to Paris, and all this works in Northern Ireland's favour. But above all, it's the new trendy destination in Europe. It's a departure from the great classics, and companies are looking to take their staff to places they've never been as a couple or with their families. I can feel the buzz, with some ultra-fashionable hotels opening up. I think we're at the start of something.
What would you say to help raise the profile of the destination?
V. V. - For one thing, Northern Ireland is a destination in its own right, with its own identity, its own soul, its own landscapes, and always a great deal of kindness. It's got everything the French love: lots of history, the sea, whiskey. And when it comes to incentives, there's no shortage of creativity. You can, for example, organise a cocktail party with champagne and smoked salmon on the Giant's Causeway, or hire out museums or Belfast Cathedral for gala dinners. With its grand manor houses, the country also has many very chic venues where you can organise events and meet the lords and ladies. And then there are the Games of Thrones activities, where even those who aren't fans of the series can easily get hooked. What's more, there's a very good hotel capacity in Northern Ireland, with six hotels due to open in Belfast.
What does the destination still need to make its mark?
V. V. - A direct daily flight from Paris. That's the only thing holding us back, but for me it's a matter of two or three years, because the number of visitors is constantly increasing. Today, Belfast is only served by easyJet on certain days of the week. That said, MICE groups can arrive in Dublin and combine Dublin, less than two hours away by train or car, with Northern Ireland. This is often done.
Also in this dossier: Northern Ireland by leaps and bounds
