Business

Tourist retail spend could hit £580 million

IRELAND should be promoted on an all-island basis to maximise the retail spend of overseas tourists on both sides of the border, a report has recommended.

The document, launched jointly by the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) and Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) said the tourist shopping market was worth a potential £580 million annually.

It recommended a north-south retail forum should be set up to drive forward all-is-land initiatives.

It also called for promotion of cross-border weekend shopping breaks taking in Belfast, Dublin and other shopping destinations throughout the island.

The report found just 16 per cent of visitors in Dublin had also been to Belfast but that 32 per cent of those in Belfast had included Dublin in their itinerary.

International visitors spent around €606 (£441) during a stay in Dublin on average but just €358 (£261)in Belfast.

Day trippers spend more in Dublin than in Belfast but the opposite was true for visitors staying for more than two weeks.

Head of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) Glyn Roberts said the research "indicates that there is a major prize for the retail industry on the island of Ireland if we can ensure that the broad choice of retail options is correctly profiled to incoming international visitors".

"Both our organisations will be working in partnership to ensure that policies are put in place to support what is the island's largest industry by employment. From a Northern Ireland perspective, more can be done to attract Republic of Ireland-only tourists to NI.

"A vibrant retail sector with thriving town centres can play a key role in doing this. Crucial also will be further promoting the new British-Irish tourism visa to attract visitors from outside the EU to the island," he said.

Sean Murphy, deputy chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) said the report "provides real insights into why we need to promote the whole of Ireland as a visitor shopping destination".

"Doing this will grow visitor spend on retail all over the island. We know that the island is competitively priced when it comes to luxury goods prices ex VAT. Using this research

will enable us all to further enhance the island of Ireland's attractiveness as a visitor retail destination," he added.

Irish minister for north-south cooperation Sean Sherlock said: "It is important that we adopt an all-island approach towards the retail sector, which employs over 300,000 in our towns, cities and villages".

"Through the reconciliation fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs, we have sup

ported this research in aid of an economic sector which is at the heart of communities across the island. The retail sector plays an invaluable role in the economy of this island."

The report found most visitors to Dublin (71 per cent) and Belfast (55 per cent) were staying for more than one night but less than a week, indicating a strong preference for short breaks in Ireland rather than longer holidays.