Tourism chiefs were urged today by a member of the DUP to market the Protestant Orange Order's Battle of the Boyne celebrations like the Mardi Gras in New Orleans or France's Bastille Day.
The Democratic Unionists' Alex Easton insisted the summer marching season - involving parades by the Orange Order, Black Preceptory and Apprentice Boys -should be marketed in a more positive light to international visitors.
The North Down councillor argued: "The events surrounding the months of Julyand August, when all three of the Loyal Orders hold their main demonstrations,should be viewed as part of the rich cultural tapestry of this part of theUnited Kingdom.
"Orange, Black and Apprentice Boys' parades offer visitors to NorthernIreland an opportunity to share in the Ulster-British culture which is held insuch high esteem by many people in Northern Ireland."
Mr Easton claimed the image of the marching season had been tarnished bynationalist residents' groups which opposed parades.
Their tactics, he alleged, had meant the summer marching season was associatedwith disturbances and unpleasantness.
As a result, many people in Northern Ireland and abroad had "developed thewrong impression about parades and other legitimate expressions of Orange orProtestant culture.
"As is often the case, education equates to greater levels of understanding.
"A positive, pro-active and concerted marketing campaign by bodies such asthe Northern Ireland Tourist Board would increase people's understanding of whatthe marching season is all about and how they can enjoy the cultural heritagewhich it represents.
"New Orleans has its Mardi Gras and France has Bastille Day. I believe thatthe relevant tourist promotion agences could be doing so much more to market ourequivalent to these events - namely the Twelfth of July which commemorates theBattle of the Boyne."
PA