To ask the Minister for the Economy what actions she is taking in conjunction with the Minister for Infrastructure to promote rail and ferry routes to Northern Ireland for tourists from the Common Travel Area.

The importance of connectivity, as a key theme for recovery, has been recognised in the Tourism Recovery Action Plan that was launched by my Department at the end of May.

The ferry and rail routes to Northern Ireland provide important connectivity from the ROI and GB markets in terms of both Leisure and Business Tourism.

In terms of Business Tourism, Tourism NI works closely with ferry operators and GB companies that have booked group business, to ensure their itineraries can be delivered.

In terms of Leisure Tourism, Tourism NI has recently welcomed various media partners from the GB market, several of whom have travelled by ferry. This will be covered in their corresponding editorials and read by potential GB consumers.

Tourism NI has also promoted the Carlingford Lough ferry route through social media and its website, discovernorthernireland.com.

Tourism NI is also planning to advertise in forthcoming editions of the Southern Irish Rail Company’s on board publication ‘Go Rail’, to promote Short Breaks in Northern Ireland by train.

Tourism Ireland in GB has written to the two ferry operators serving Northern Ireland from Great Britain (Stena Line and P&O Ferries) inviting them to submit proposals to undertake co-operative promotional activity in GB to highlight attractive fares on ferry crossings to Northern Ireland. Both ferry operators have submitted proposals that will be considered as part of a dedicated campaign to promote Northern Ireland in GB

In respect of travel across the Common Travel Area, Translink provides public transport connections to the ports and airports and has maintained the Belfast to Glasgow/Edinburgh bus service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Translink has also maintained the cross border rail and bus network throughout the pandemic and currently these are being built back as demand increases.

All these services provide vital tourist links within the Common Travel Area. Translink works closely with Tourism NI and Visit Belfast to help promote Northern Ireland as a destination and public transport as a means to get here and travel while here.

Translink also offers a large number of discounted fares to encourage travel on our public transport network including by tourists.