Joe O’Neill has been appointed as Chair of NITA, succeeding Judith Owens MBE, who held the position for the last three years. Joe brings a wealth of leadership experience and strategic insight to the role. He is currently Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour, having joined the organisation in 1997 and holding a number of senior […]
NITA’s Annual Conference will once again be one of the main events of this year’s Tourism and Hospitality Week which will run from Tuesday, September 23rd to Wednesday, October 1st. The dedicated week, supported by Tourism NI, NITA and along with other key partners, will incorporate World Tourism Day on September 27th and aims to shine a
NITA Conference Launched as part of Tourism And Hospitality Week 2025 Read More »
Following publication of the White paper: Restoring control over the immigration system and several stakeholder engagement events, the Home Office have issued an update addressing the questions and feedback raised during those sessions. provides additional information in response to the questions and feedback we received from stakeholders at these sessions.The following Immigration Rules changes have come into
Changes affecting skilled work routes the that come into effect on 22 July 2025 Read More »
Tourism is widely recognised as a key pillar of economic growth in Northern Ireland, contributing significantly to both regional and sub-regional development. A major new report by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (EPC) has revealed that regional inequalities across Northern Ireland remain stubbornly persistent despite some progress. The report, which examines historical and current
The Minister responsible for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, Seema Malhotra MP, has been in Northern Ireland to visit two of our most popular tourist attractions and meet with industry representatives to hear about the impact of the scheme since its roll-out was completed in April. The Minister visited the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre and walked
Despite a dip in overall visitor numbers and spending in 2024, tourism remains a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s economy. According to the latest data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the sector generated £1.8 billion (£1.1 billion from overnight stays and £700 million from day trips) supporting over 70,000 jobs across the
Analysis: A Tale of Two Trends: Northern Ireland’s Tourism Dip and Its Global Climb Read More »
May 2025 Titanic Belfast has been committed to sustainability from its conception – as it heads into its second decade of operations it’s developing a new strategy to drive standards to the next level . Provide a brief background on your organisation. Titanic Belfast is a world leading tourist attraction, located on the spot where
Sustainability: Judith Owens, CEO Titanic Belfast Read More »
May 2025 Provide a brief background on your organisation The National Trust is the largest conservation charity in Europe, looking after nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever. We were founded in 1895 by three people who saw the importance of heritage and open space, and wanted to look after them for everyone to
“Sustainability is in our DNA”- Heather McLachlan NI Director, National Trust Read More »
On 28th April, the Minister published the response to the Good Jobs Employment Bill consultation, with the report laying out the proposals that will be taken forward. There is a lot in the document, and we have organised a session for NITA members with the Department to go through the proposals with an opportunity to
On Monday 24th March 2025, Joanne Stuart CEO NITA, Nuala Saul, Managing Director of Brack Tours and President of ITOA and Eimear Kearney, Commercial Director of Titanic Belfast met with the Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald at Parliament Buildings and outlined evidence of significant cancellations as direct result of the ETA scheme. Following the meeting, Minister Archibald said there was tangible evidence that
The highly anticipated NITA Conference is set to take place on September 26, 2024, at the iconic ICC Belfast, just a day before World Tourism Day. This year’s conference will also kick off the inaugural Tourism and Hospitality Week! In partnership with Tourism NI and Hospitality Ulster, we’re excited to bring you a week-long celebration
We were delighted to welcome Minister for the Economy, Conor Murphy, to our board meeting on 29th August, which was held at ICC Belfast. We had a wide-ranging discussion about opportunities and challenges facing the tourism industry from The Good Jobs and Employment Rights consultation through to Marketing and connectivity. NITA is a member of