Dr. Tom Healy:

There are practical initiatives that could be taken at local level, possibly involving different local authorities. Examples of that could include cycleways based on old railway tracks. There is potential in that regard, certainly in the Carlingford peninsula area. In promoting activities such as those it might be possible to direct tourists naturally from the Mournes to Carlingford and from Carlingford to the Mournes, and from Derry city to Gweedore and from Gweedore to Derry and Strabane. There are also the relatively under-discovered areas of Fermanagh, Roscommon and the like. However, it requires joined-up thinking and strategic approaches.

Certainly, the appreciation in sterling against the euro of approximately 10% in value since December has created a real additional difficulty for southern people coming to Northern Ireland as tourists, whether as day tourists or longer stay tourists. One suspects that it will really impact on Northern Ireland tourism, retail and other outlets this summer.