Boosting Tourism and Regenerating Our Region
Given the unique history, natural environment and cultural heritage of the BRCD region, there is a real opportunity for a further step change in the visitor offering, building upon the significant success already achieved in terms of tourism growth.
We want visitors to stay longer and spend more, supporting existing tourism and hospitality businesses, creating new opportunities and regenerating our towns and cities.
We plan to do this by creating internationally visible tourism products that will extend the tourist route from Hillsborough to Belfast through Carrickfergus towards the breathtaking Causeway Coast and Glens and along the County Down coast to the majestic Mourne Mountains.
Regenerating our town and city centres will enhance the region's attractiveness as a destination. Reimagining our town and city centres into multifunctional business and social centres that encourage people to live, shop, work, use services and spend leisure time will help them to recover from the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic.
Bangor Waterfront
Bangor Waterfront will reconnect the town with the sea through a range of attractions and experiences. The investment will provide high quality public spaces, a new Music Hub and will regenerate assets including Bangor Marina, Pickie Fun Park and watersports facilities at Ballyholme Yacht Club, enhancing the town and encouraging further investment.
Belfast Stories
Belfast Stories, a transformational anchor visitor attraction in Belfast city centre, will allow people to connect with the city and one another through stories, screen and social spaces. The experience will include a state-of-the-art multi-screen film centre and vibrant public spaces allowing for lively event programming and animation.
Carrickfergus Regeneration
Carrickfergus Regeneration will provide investment in Carrickfergus Castle, including its visitor hub and historic walls. Its connection to the town centre will regenerate, reposition and rebrand the town, placing it firmly on the map as an authentic, heritage-led tourism hub - a 'must visit' starting point to the Causeway Coastal Route.
Destination Royal Hillsborough
Destination Royal Hillsborough will further enhance Hillsborough Castle by restoring and developing the historic Courthouse and Fort and investing in the Forest. This will include opening a Social Enterprise Café and integrating and improving connections between these attractions and the wider village through improved public realm, to attract more visitors to this world class heritage village.
The Gobbins Phase 2
The Gobbins Phase 2 aims to build on this exhilarating visitor attraction through the addition of a stunning staircase, an upgrade to the cliff top path - to include a new rope bridge that stretches across the coastline - and the development of a new Welcome Hub which will include Augmented Reality experiences.
The Mourne Mountains Gateway
The Mourne Mountains Gateway will redefine visitors' experience of the Mourne Mountains whilst supporting the sustainable growth of tourism and protecting the natural heritage and habitat of the region. The project will deliver a world class visitor attraction, and will create improved, and more sustainable access to the Mournes.
Newry City Centre Regeneration
Newry City Centre Regeneration will deliver a civic hub, theatre and conferencing facilities which, together with new public realm and grade A office provision, will revitalise the city. The regeneration will also create and sustain jobs, increase visitor numbers, appeal to residents and stimulate the evening economy.
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