2022-2032 Vistitor Experience Development Plan

There is currently a lack of real time insights and data to measure online sentiment and visitor trends. Leveraging partnerships to gain and monitor these indicators will prove to be a key tool in the ongoing delivery of the VEDP, measuring performance and allowing for agile planning and response to market requirements. TourismNI has developed market recovery forecasting through EY and while indicators show that international travel is due to return by late 2024 it is anticipated to be 2025 before this is on par with a return to 2019 levels, therefore emphasizing the importance of the close to home markets in the short to medium term. It is also prudent to consider the main areas of focus under Department for the Economy’s Tourism Recovery action plan and consider needs of the region aligned to these themes aimed at assisting both the long-term recovery and sustainable growth of the tourism industry. Whilst the industry and markets are seeing a return and recovery is underway, these themes are grounded in the ongoing challenges that the tourism industry faces and require support in. These themes have informed the action plan detailed later in this document. To date £31 million has been invested by the Department for the Economy and TourismNI over the last two years to support the implementation of this recovery action plan to provide a measure of protection for businesses and ensure that the tourism industry can meet the future needs of domestic and international visitors. 3.6 Insight Driven Recovery and Growth Fermanagh Lakelands & Omagh and The Sperrins Theme 1: Business Continuity Theme 2: Creating Consumer Confidence Theme 3: Stimulating Consumer Demand Theme 4: Safeguarding Connectivity Theme 5: Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Region Theme 6: Enhancing the Capability of Businesses Theme 7: Enhancing the Skills of theWorkforce Theme 8: Creating a Supportive Policy Environment 29