NORTHERN Ireland has been named the world’s best food destination at a major travel and tourism awards.
The entry from food and drink promotion body Food NI claimed gold at the prestigious International Travel and Tourism Awards in London, piping other global food destinations including San Sebastian/Donostia in Spain.
The awards were held as the showpiece of the annual World Travel Market in London, the world’s leading global travel trade event, which attracts more than 50,000 travel professionals from around the world.
Food NI chief executive Michele Shirlow said: “I'm thrilled to receive this strategically important award which positions Northern Ireland internationally as the leading destination for premium quality and innovative food and drink.
“This international award is a marvellous accolade for our industry and local producers in particular and should be a major benefit for our rapidly developing tourism industry as it seeks to attract even more visitors from across the world and in particular golf enthusiasts for The Open in Portrush next year.”
Food NI played the central role with government departments including the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and Invest NI in delivering the north’s first year-long Year of Food and Drink in 2016, a celebration of outstanding food and drink and the people who produce it and provide it.
The inaugural awards were held during the the three-day show and attracted 70 entries, with the judges all being prominent member of the travel community.
