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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Hotel boom appears to be over' | 'Hotel boom appears to be over' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Northern Ireland's much documented hotel boom appears to have come to an end, according to a report which examined occupancy levels. | Northern Ireland's much documented hotel boom appears to have come to an end, according to a report which examined occupancy levels. |
| It found the overall figure for people staying in hotels dropped by nearly 7% in 2008. | It found the overall figure for people staying in hotels dropped by nearly 7% in 2008. |
| October was the worst month when guest numbers fell by nearly 10%. | October was the worst month when guest numbers fell by nearly 10%. |
| However, the PricewaterhouseCoopers study said the fall, which was the first since 2002, was in line with a UK-wide downturn. | However, the PricewaterhouseCoopers study said the fall, which was the first since 2002, was in line with a UK-wide downturn. |
| In 2005-2006 the number of visitors to Northern Ireland rose dramatically, attributed to the peace process, conference growth in Belfast and a heightened interest in the region. | In 2005-2006 the number of visitors to Northern Ireland rose dramatically, attributed to the peace process, conference growth in Belfast and a heightened interest in the region. |
| Read the full PricewaterhouseCoopers report | |
| Stephen Curragh, a partner with PricewaterhouseCooper, said while it had been a tough quarter for Northern Ireland "the overall decline in revenues per available room has been less than 1% - well below the experience of London and other cities". | Stephen Curragh, a partner with PricewaterhouseCooper, said while it had been a tough quarter for Northern Ireland "the overall decline in revenues per available room has been less than 1% - well below the experience of London and other cities". |
| "While poor bookings and the economic crisis make it impossible to forecast the end of this downturn, aggressive marketing of the region, its attractions and events, may offer opportunities to win visitors and revenue in a rapidly-shrinking market," he said. | "While poor bookings and the economic crisis make it impossible to forecast the end of this downturn, aggressive marketing of the region, its attractions and events, may offer opportunities to win visitors and revenue in a rapidly-shrinking market," he said. |
| It's important that we get out into the world and we say that Northern Ireland is open for business, is open for tourism, and that's what we must continue to do Tourism Minister Arlene Foster | It's important that we get out into the world and we say that Northern Ireland is open for business, is open for tourism, and that's what we must continue to do Tourism Minister Arlene Foster |
| However, he said that the weakness of sterling against the euro could help the industry. | However, he said that the weakness of sterling against the euro could help the industry. |
| "The sterling/euro exchange rate makes the north attractive to UK and Irish stay-at-home holidaymakers while lower than UK average costs will be attractive to whatever conference and corporate activity remains," he said. | "The sterling/euro exchange rate makes the north attractive to UK and Irish stay-at-home holidaymakers while lower than UK average costs will be attractive to whatever conference and corporate activity remains," he said. |
| Tourism Minister Arlene Foster, reacting to media reports that the Polish national football team, among others, had concerns about travelling to Northern Ireland following the shootings on Saturday and Monday said it was "inevitable that people will ask questions". | Tourism Minister Arlene Foster, reacting to media reports that the Polish national football team, among others, had concerns about travelling to Northern Ireland following the shootings on Saturday and Monday said it was "inevitable that people will ask questions". |
| "And they have every right to ask those questions," continued the minister, speaking from a travel trade show in Berlin. | "And they have every right to ask those questions," continued the minister, speaking from a travel trade show in Berlin. |
| "However, we must be united, as we have been, and give a very strong message that we're not going to allow these incidents to direct us or frame our agenda, but that we're going to make a success of Northern Ireland and I think we owe it to those people who have been murdered to do that. | "However, we must be united, as we have been, and give a very strong message that we're not going to allow these incidents to direct us or frame our agenda, but that we're going to make a success of Northern Ireland and I think we owe it to those people who have been murdered to do that. |
| "So it's important that we get out into the world and we say that Northern Ireland is open for business, is open for tourism, and that's what we must continue to do." | "So it's important that we get out into the world and we say that Northern Ireland is open for business, is open for tourism, and that's what we must continue to do." |