Tourism Northern Ireland NI launch its new Destination Sustainability programme

17th January 2024

Photo caption: Jessica Hoyle (left), Experience Development Manager at Tourism Northern Ireland pictured with Tina O'Dwyer from The Tourism Space®. 

Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI) has today launched its new Destination Sustainability programme. Tourism and hospitality businesses from around Northern Ireland have signed up to take part in the 12-week pilot programme. Delivered by The Tourism Space®, Destination Sustainability aims to empower businesses to become advocates for sustainable tourism experiences and to feel confident in sustainability and climate action. Topics due to be explored include Biodiversity and Business, Leave No Trace Awareness, Sustainable Storytelling, and Waste Reduction and Waste Management in Your Business. On completing the programme, participating businesses will achieve a holistic understanding of sustainability that focuses on making the destination better as a result of tourism activity. Those taking part will be led through a blended learning approach consisting of in-person group sessions, online workshops and one-to-one mentoring. Participants will also have the opportunity to share experiences, solutions and challenges in relation to sustainability.

An awards ceremony will take place at the end of the programme. The businesses taking part include White Rivers Charters, Finn Lough, National Museums NI, East Coast Adventures, Walk It Off NI, Strangford Lough Activity Centre, Dunfin Farm, Brook Hall Estate & Gardens, The Gobbins Cliff Path, Long Meadow Cider Company Ltd., Life Adventure/Bike Mourne, Following Seas, Foyle Trails, Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, CIS and Titanic Belfast.

Tracey from Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen based on the shores of Strangford Lough near Whiterock told us, “Sustainability is at the core of everything that we do on our small farm. We’d like to learn how we can build on what we’re already doing and in turn give back to our local community"  

The group came together today for a first meeting at the Tourism Northern Ireland offices in Belfast. They were welcomed by Brian Connolly, Experience Development Officer at Tourism Northern Ireland, before they were addressed by Tina O'Dwyer from The Tourism Space®. Speaking about the Destination Sustainability programme, Jessica Hoyle, Experience Development Manager at Tourism Northern Ireland, said: “Tourism Northern Ireland is delighted to be partnering with The Tourism Space® to deliver this programme.  “The importance of sustainability continues to rapidly increase across the tourism industry," she said. "This new opportunity will support our industry in creating a meaningful sustainability action plan in addition to collectively developing a deeper understanding of sustainable tourism practices to enhance Northern Ireland as an attractive tourism destination.”