Elisha McCallion (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Over the past few days, we have heard many people discuss, and quite rightly so, the need for people across the island to staycation, as the concept has become known. It is right for so many reasons that we encourage those who are fortunate enough to be able to afford a holiday to stay on the island, not least because it would help our economy and industry.It also encourages people to learn more about their own heritage and cultural identity. I ask that the Leader at this point consider having a conversation with her colleagues with responsibility for tourism and suggest there should be some sort of quick intervention between Tourism NI, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to promote the island as a whole. We have a small window of opportunity to do that. Obviously, we are in the middle of the holiday season, but it would be useful if those three bodies could come together and begin to market and promote the one island as a place for people who are fortunate enough to holiday to come together.

A place I have spoken about many times in this Chamber - Members may not have heard of it as it is marketed - is the north west city region. It is a place I encourage anyone here today and further afield across the island to visit. Everything is on one's doorstep. The north west city region has a city, namely, Derry, in the middle of it for a city break, and Donegal, which has some of the finest beaches and best golf courses. I could say plenty about Derry and all the tourist attractions there, but I will not as I am running out of time. However, an opportunity could be missed if we do not ask all those agencies to come together as a matter of urgency to try and promote the one island.