This is a subscriber-only article
In 2018, NI was named as the world’s best food destination at the travel and tourism awards in London. The food industry is now looking to build on the award and raise the profile of NI’s food and drink sector.
To this end, Taste the Island (a three-year programme) was launched in Belfast last week by Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland, with a similar launch in Dublin; making it the first food tourism project with all-island coverage.
At the Belfast event, featuring local artisan food and drinks producers, chef Paula McIntyre highlighted some of the recent developments in “tours and tastings”.
The ability to welcome and cater for visitors is a crucial part of giving them an enjoyable experience while they are here.
Three good examples at the launch were the Lough Neagh Fishermens Co-op at Toomebridge, where they have a new centre to allow visitors to see their eel and pollan products from the lough. The Armagh Cider Company welcomes guests to their farm with its extensive apple orchards and cider and juice plant. And in Moira, the Hughes Craft Distillery gives visitors a hands-on experience of distilling and tasting their gin, vodka and liqueurs.
Food tourism in NI is now worth an estimated £350m to the local economy. The Taste the Island programme will certainly push that figure up in the future.
SHARING OPTIONS: