The arrival of the British Open golf championship to Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush course in July 2019 is expected to boost the local economy by about £70 million (€95.4 million).
Organisers expect the staging of one of golf’s major tournaments at the Co Antrim course to inspire a new generation of players and draw tens of thousands of tourists to the area.
DUP Minister for Finance Arlene Foster said the tournament would attract some 200,000 spectators over four days of competition and estimated they would spend about £2,500 (€3,407) per trip.
Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open winner, described the benefits of hosting the event as “immeasurable” given the North could hit the headlines for the right reasons and be showcased to an international audience.
Janice Gault, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, said it would be a boost to the hospitality industry and enhance the North's reputation globally. "The publicity from the Open will help us promote not only golf but the scenery, hospitality and tourism products that we have developed," she said.
Biggest event
Ms Gault also said the federation was keen to “see the opportunity maximised and to build a legacy from the event .
Tourism NI chief operating officer Kathryn Thomson said the economy could expect an injection of more than £70 million in 2019.
“It is going to be the biggest event Northern Ireland will ever have hosted,” she said.
Ms Foster was at Royal Portrush on Tuesday as one of her final tasks in the position of acting First Minister. She described the announcement as “a great day for Northern Ireland”.
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness praised Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington for being ambassadors for the island of Ireland.
Mr McGuinness conceded he would not be swapping his beloved fishing rods for golf clubs anytime soon. “I can actually land a Connemara black fly on a sixpence, on a river, but I don’t think I could get a hole in one on this course,” he said.