NITB reports signs of growth

FOLLOWING two years of declining room occupancy, Northern Ireland's hoteliers last year recorded a one percentage point increase to 48%.

According to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), which compiles the statistics, the performance was particularly encouraging in that there was also a 3% growth in available bed stock.

The biggest change was in the South-east of the province, which recorded a seven-point increase, while the South-west declined by four points. Occupancy in Belfast rose to 53%, up from 46% in 1992 and the first rise since 1989.

The NITB estimates that a total of about 594,000 room nights were sold during 1993, an increase of 5% on the previous year.

lThe Survey of Hotel Occupancy 1993 is available free from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Research Department, 59 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NB.