A new Tourism Development Strategy and Action Plan, designed to promote Londonderry and its surrounding attractions, has been made public by Derry City Council.    By promoting the distinctiveness of the region to overseas visitors, the domestic market and the Republic of Ireland, it is estimated that by 2010 the strategy could boost visitor numbers by 25% and visitor spending by 40%.

The Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism has been produced by The Communities and Local Government Department.
In summary the document needs to be read alongside national planning policies and is designed to:

• “Ensure that planners understand the importance of tourism and take this fully into account when preparing development plans and taking planning decisions;
• Ensure that those involved in the tourism industry understand the principles of national planning policy as they apply to tourism and how these can be applied when preparing individual planning applications; and
• Ensure that planners and the tourism industry work together effectively to facilitate, promote and deliver new tourism development in a sustainable way.”

“This document reviews the health of the tourism sector, provides an overview of the strategic influences currently affecting theborough, the Council’s main aims and outlines the priority action areas for the next seven years.”  Read the Greenwich Tourism Strategy here.