Trimble confirms united tourism body talks

A possible North-South tourism body will be discussed with the Government, according to the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble.

He was engaged in "one of the more enjoyable aspects of political life", he said, when he initiated the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's autumn/winter marketing campaign in Dublin yesterday.

He refused to answer any questions from journalists on the decommissioning issue at a breakfast attended by representatives of the tourism industry.

Pressed on whether he, as a local person, could do a better job selling Northern Ireland tourism than British ministers over the last 25 years, he noted that "this novelty value has attracted quite a bit of attention from the press".

Mr Trimble confirmed that discussions were about to begin on the possibility of a North-South tourism body.

He said that advances in the political process had created an environment in which tourism could grow again. In the spring there was support for peace, shown by the referendums and the elections to the new Assembly.

The period of hope was followed by the atrocity in Omagh which brought people together in worldwide condemnation and revulsion.

"Subsequently we have been visited by President Clinton, and there is a new-found optimism in Northern Ireland, a renewed hope for the future, and while there are still political hurdles to cross, there is no doubt that we have come a long way over the last six months," he said.

Republic of Ireland visitors to Northern Ireland reached almost 470,000 in 1995, almost one-third of all visitors during that year. These figures have slipped back, but Mr Trimble said he had no doubt that the new political climate provided considerable potential for growth and job-creation.

As part of the joint promotion announced yesterday, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Northern Ireland tourism industry are offering pound-for-punt breaks at top hotels and self-catering centres in the North.