A Giant Welcome From The Land Of Giants

Tourism was high on the itinerary, as Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness made their first visits to Canada — a trip that featured stops in both Montreal and Toronto — late last week. During the stop in Toronto, First Minister Robinson spoke to the audience of dignitaries and top travel trade types about how special Northern Ireland’s tourism product is and how the next two years — with a host of planned celebrations, openings and major events — will be even better still. Peace and stability, Robinson told his audience, have created a “new era” mood and that has definitely been good for the country’s tourism industry. Both Robinson and Deputy First Minister McGuinness pointed to such projects and events as the Titanic Experience, the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, the upcoming Irish Open, the World Clipper Yacht Races and the Derry-Londonderry City of Culture 2013 event as indicative of what’s in store for those visiting Northern Ireland in the next little while. And both ministers made it abundantly clear to their audience in Toronto that they want Canadians to be part of that future. Said Deputy First Minister McGuinness: “We’re moving forward and what we want you to do is come and to encourage other people to come because our best days are before us.” As for First Minister Robinson it is all about the people, because when all is said and done, he observed: “If you come to the land of Giants, you will get a Giant welcome.” To find out more about what’s up in Northern Ireland in 2012, go to http://www.discovernorthernireland.com .