2016 tourism in numbers

With greater recognition and focus on the potential for tourism to help grow the Northern Ireland economy, agendaNi analyses the recently published figures for 2016.

Statistically, the overall tourism figures for 2016 largely resemble the figures for 2015, however, a range of economic and political factors have led to a shift in where visitors to Northern Ireland are coming from and how much is being spent.

While figures for the overall number of trips for Northern Ireland portray a 1 per cent increase between 2015 and 2016, the statistic somewhat masks a changing trend between domestic and external visitors. Where previously, Northern Ireland has been heavily dependent on its domestic market, the number of overall trips defined as domestic fell by 11 per cent across the year but was balanced by a 12 per cent increase in external overnight trips. This shift has been attributed to a number of factors including the value of sterling against foreign currency post-Brexit referendum and initiatives aimed at attracting a broader market to the region.

A drive to help grow the economy of Northern Ireland through tourism, as outlined in the Programme for Government, will have its level of success measured largely on the two key areas of number of overnight trips and the associated expenditure.

number of overnight trips, nights and expenditure in Northern Ireland 2015 vs 2016