Businesses sign up for latest Tourism NI Sustainability Programme

Led and facilitated by The Tourism Space, the programme offers structured mentoring and training, enabling businesses across the region to develop sustainable tourism offerings, reduce waste, water, and energy consumption, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability.

The programme, which is taking place in partnership with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council, covers 12 modules with participants undertaking a blended learning programme on collaborative sustainability and regeneration tourism concepts.

Industry taking part in the programme will also network with sustainable tourism businesses across Northern Ireland and undertake a field trip to visit the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Geopark.

Upon completion, participating businesses will complete a 12-step sustainability action plan for their businesses and present on their learnings to achieve a Level 4 Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Practice in Destinations from Ulster University.

The businesses will join a growing group of sustainability-focused businesses who have already completed the programme across Northern Ireland.

Jessica Hoyle, Experience Brand Development Manager at Tourism Northern Ireland, said “We are thrilled to partner with the two councils to deliver these new cohorts of the Sustainable Tourism Business Programme.

“Making sustainable business improvements can be a challenging and isolated process but this programme creates the opportunity for the tourism industry to collaborate, share best practice and work together - not only to make cost-savings for their own business but also to collectively promote the destination sustainably.

“The Tourism Space® lead participants through a number of modules linked to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, recognising that sustainability and regeneration goes beyond environmental to enhance communities, inclusivity and well-being.”

She added: “I look forward to supporting the businesses on their journey and hearing the outcomes from the programme later in the year.”

The tourism businesses taking part in the latest programme include The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, Cairn Bay Lodge, Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary, Mrs Maker is Art, Kiri Cottage, Castle Espie, Lightfoot Kitchen and Deli, Ballyboley Dexters, NI SILVER, Eastwell Farms, The Old Market House, Whitehill House Farm, Blackwell House, Halfway House, Armagh City Hotel, Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, Newforge House, Charlemont Arms Hotel, Knocknagore Cottages, Crannagael House, and the National Trust.