Full Circle

The Social Economic Enterprise Strategy recently enacted proposes to help stimulate large growth in this sector of the Northern Irish economy. The sector, comprised of many charities and other not for personal profit businesses represents a large portion of the business economy of the area, though one that has not always been fully funded and recognized. The purpose of the new strategy is to implement a reduced phasing grant that will pay 600,000 pounds into the system over the next four years. The ultimate goal is to help make the sector more visible and to help to increase its overall strength.

While the strategy affects everyone on some level, it will have a primary impact on business owners and employees who are a part of the social economy. This includes businesses that work to provide social services, nonprofit health facilities, resource and environmental protection groups, and more. Ideally, the strategy will help to promote the formation of new social economic enterprises as well as to foster those that already exist. The hope is to help create a sustainable future and to create a system that offers social benefit while helping the local economy as well. It is the belief of the government and policy writers that establishing visibility of this sector of the economy will be the first step in achieving these goals.

The Tourism Order Bill for Northern Ireland is undergoing major changes in 2010. The Order is the primary legislation that constitutes the Tourist Board and is designed to help develop and promote tourism in the area. The Order outlines the powers of the NITB.

There primary area of the Tourism Order that is being amended in 2010 is the frequency of which the NITB inspects tourist accommodations. While currently all accommodations must be inspected annually, the proposed change will make the inspections mandatory only once every four years. The reasoning behind this is sound, as most establishments undergo few significant changes from one year to the next. The proposed change will still allow for inspections to be conducted as necessary in order to respond to complaints, however, and will require accommodation providers to declare annually that they will comply with all NITB requirements in order to retain certification.

In addition to the change in frequency of inspections, changes are being made to the criteria by which establishments are assessed. Proposed changes include the addition of bunk houses and guest accommodations as tourist accommodations as well as the implementation of a star rating system and the addition of fees that will cover the incurred cost of inspections. The proposal, if passed, will help to ensure that tourists are offered acceptable accommodations while serving to add new options and enabling tourists to choose accommodations based on ratings provided by the NITB.

Arlene Foster, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade, and Development, has recently proposed a number of ideas and initiatives to help stimulate tourism throughout Northern Ireland. It is her hope, and the hope of the administration, that tourism and the food industry can become the staples of the economy in the area. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board carries out a great deal of research to determine the interests of visitors to the area and works to create a marketing strategy that will help boost tourism.

Foster’s plans for 2010 include a ten year plan that will help provide a vision of the future of tourism in the area. Numerous pilot projects have been created that will help the Board learn how the industry can better improve the tourist experience for visitors. Projects proposed include the St. Patrick Christian Heritage Project as well as a number of other signature projects designed to help bring in tourists interested in learning more about the heritage of the area.

While the overall success of the plan will take years to determine, Foster is working to bring a tourism increase to the area in the very near future as well. The promotion of many historic churches as well as theatres and other attractions is high on the list of priorities for the board for the immediate future. Foster has highlighted 2012 as the key year for tourism to the area and is working to help increase interest in the Titanic celebration as well as the plantation period. It is also her hope that the Giant’s Causeway visitor center will be fully operational by this time.