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Friday, 26 November, 1999, 10:29 GMT
Tourist chiefs back peace process
Giant's Causeway: Giant's Causeway: One of NI's main tourist sites

Leading members of Northern Ireland's hospitality industry voiced support for the peace process during a gala event to toast the tourist industry.

Speaking in Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Thursday night during the annual tourism awards, two senior figures in the industry pointed to the benefits of a breakthrough.

The tourism awards were presented to businesses which were judged to have excelled in innovation, development and quality.

And they come at a time when the industry hopes it is entering a new era.

Felix Mooney Felix Mooney: Signs of increased demand
Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Roy Bailie, said that tourism could create 20,000 jobs in Northern Ireland.

"That's the prize that would be delivered. The tourism industry is ready to do that. What we need is a signal from our politicians that it's all go," he said. Chairman of the Mooney Hotel Group Felix Mooney also pointed to the benefits devolved government would create, in terms of tourism.

He said: "If we can get an assembly established in Stormont, it will add an awful lot of confidence to people in tourism, in investing in the product, in improving the product.

"There are already signs of increased demand for next year."

The organisers billed the awards ceremony as a celebration of a product which they believe is just "getting better and better."
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See also:
27 Aug 99 |  Northern Ireland
Tourism schemes rise to peace 'challenge'
26 Oct 99 |  UK
Peace sells
30 Jul 99 |  UK
Tourists' Troubles map

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