The region’s rapidly developing tourism sector received a further boost this week with the launch of the new Mourne Coastal Tourism website. The website (www.come2mournes.com) which is designed to promote the best of the Mournes and Carlingford Lough was created by the local tourism businesses following a public meeting last year in response to frustration at the lack of marketing of the region. Speaking at the launch whiuch was held in the Whistledown Hotel last week , South Down MLA Karen McKevitt (SDLP) said th at working together on a voluntary basis local tourism providers were making a massive difference to their industry. “Last June my office set about to bring local businesses together to take ownership of our tourism industry,” she said. “The Mournes Coastal Tourism Forum has already exceeded my expectations having implemented great initiatives to promote the area with more planned for the future.” The launch came in the same week as it was revealed in the Assembly that there are currently 53 premises offering a total of 435 rooms of tourist accommodation in Newry and Mourne. The information was made available by Tourism Minister Arlene Foster following a question by south Down MLA Catriona Ruane (SF) on the matter. According to Mrs Foster there are currently six hotels in the district offering 231 room units, five guest houses offering 41 room units, 32 B&Bs offering 87 room units and five hostels offering 38 room units. These figures are expected to increase considerably in the coming months and years as a number of projects designed to increase the number of tourist beds in the district come to fruition.
Newry Reporter
13th March 3013
“