National Museums Northern Ireland will be exhibiting alongside Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau at this year’s World Travel Market.
One of Europe’s fastest growing tourism destinations, Northern Ireland welcomes millions of oversees visitors every year and is one of the most popular destinations in the UK for weekend breaks.
And the multi award-winning museums across Northern Ireland are well equipped to manage this influx.
Northern Ireland’s principal museum, the Ulster Museum in Belfast, reopened this October, following a major £17 million redevelopment. The rejuvenated museum is punctuated with high level walkways, white walls and a powerful sense of light and space and is being described as the most important cultural project ever undertaken in Northern Ireland.
In addition to its permanent history, nature, science and art exhibitions, the museum, which offers free admission, has a number of exhibitions taking place including the Imagery of Sean Scully, a celebration of the acclaimed Irish artist’s work. The traditions of cultures across the world will be revealed through the ‘Rites of Passage’ exhibition, while the ‘Flights of Fancy’ exhibit will feature over 200 mounted birds. There are coach drop off points in close proximity to the museum.
Living history is very much the focus of the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, County Down and the Ulster American Folk Park, County Tyrone (pictured). The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, set in 174 acres of countryside, reveals life in early 20th century Ulster with costumed visitor guides carrying out their daily tasks.
Located in Omagh, the Ulster American Folk Park takes visitors on a journey from the Old World to the New World, as they discover the story of Irish emigration in the 19th Century.
National Museums Northern Ireland’s head of business and tourism, Patrick McLain, said: “We are delighted to be represented at the World Travel Market. We believe we have a very unique offering. Each of our museums is very different and offers an excellent combination of local history and culture as well as outstanding visitor facilities. We also have a dedicated business and tourism team which works alongside tour operators and organisers for group bookings.”