Visit Belfast reports record visitor numbers

Belfast's economy received a £97 million pound boost last year after a record number of people visited the city.

It played host to 116,000 cruise passengers as well as delegates from 70 conferences held throughout the city. 

The figures for the last financial year were released by Visit Belfast who say they dealt with over 650,000 visitor enquiries.

This year's tourism figures are already on the rise with demand for hotel rooms up 10% in July and August 2016.

Dr Howard Hastings, chair of Visit Belfast:

“We are building on the success of last year, with all indications showing that this year has the potential to be even bigger. During July and August this year hotel room demand has been phenomenal, up 10 percent according to STR Global on the same two months last year and at all-time highs – August alone registering a staggering 94.5 percent hotel room occupancy.

“From June to September, Belfast will have hosted 29 conferences, welcoming nearly 43,000 delegates to the city and by the end of 2016, the city will have welcomed over 140,000 cruise visitors from 84 ships – another record high. This is all great news for our hotels, transport providers, visitor attractions, restaurants and pubs.”