Visit Belfast has launched its annual Christmas destination marketing campaign for the city, which, alongside Belfast City Council and Belfast One’s animation and promotion programs, will drive visitor numbers to Belfast and generate economic benefit for the city.
The combined investment in marketing campaign activities from public and private sector partners, including Belfast Chamber, comes to over £300,000. Branded ‘This Christmas, Make it Belfast’, the fully integrated campaign is designed to boost the city’s tourism economy by bringing visitors from Northern Ireland and the Republic to Belfast.
The multi-channel campaign is already underway across the island of the Ireland and is designed to encourage visitors to come and experience this year’s busy calendar of festive events and experiences, and unrivalled shopping and hospitality credentials.
A balanced and carefully selected mix of marketing and promotional channels including TV, radio, and digital and outdoor advertising, communicates the wealth of great value shopping experiences, fantastic restaurants, hotel offers and New Year’s activities to help plan the perfect trip to the city this festive season.
Visit Belfast Chief Executive, Gerry Lennon, said: “Christmas represents an important time in Belfast’s calendar and a critical trading period for the city’s retailers, hospitality sector and our attractions and entertainment providers. Visit Belfast has a well-established partnership approach to marketing the city, delivering the annual Christmas Campaign each year that generates real benefits for our city economy.”
Visit Belfast’s campaign is supported by marketing activity from Belfast City Council and Belfast One, promoting a special animated show, projected onto the buildings opposite CastleCourt on Royal Avenue.
Councillor Deirdre Hargey, chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: “Christmas is always a busy time for the city and a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase all that is great about Belfast. We have worked with our city partners to deliver a really exciting programme of events – from pop-up performances by local musicians, free seasonal crafts and workshops for little ones in our Soda and Champ activity den on Royal Avenue, and our bespoke Soda and Champ festive light show with Belfast One – there is a lot going on in Belfast over the coming weeks as we countdown to Christmas and the new year.”
Visit Belfast is currently marking two decades of helping to increase visitor growth and tourism investment.
The public-private partnership organisation was set up in 1999 by Belfast City Council and Tourism Northern Ireland and since the city’s tourism economy now contributes an annual £395 million to the city economy and supports more than 19,000 jobs.
For more information, go to visitbelfast.com/Christmas.