Derry-Londonderry Scoops Top Tourism Award                                                                            

Derry-Londonderry has scooped a prestigious travel industry award for an outstanding contribution to tourism by creating a highly successful week-long festival which attracted over 140,000 visitors and generated a £3m boost to the local economy.

The LegenDerry Maritime Festival took the top tourism honour by picking up the Best Event/Festival Experience title at the prestigious 2015 Northern Ireland Tourism NITA Awards.

Sir Robin said: “Congratulations to everyone in Derry-Londonderry who made this such a success. The accolade is richly deserved and this is another excellent example of how the Clipper Race works with its partners and host ports to boost tourism and make a significant economic impact. The local Council and its partners richly deserve this prestigious accolade.”

The LegenDerry Maritime Festival was based around the arrival of the twelve-strong Clipper 2013-14 Race fleet, including local entry Derry-Londonderry-Doire, which visited the city on its epic global journey after crossing the Atlantic from New York. The crew received a rapturous reception and the celebrations continued throughout the stopover which culminated in a stunning aerial display by the Red Arrows.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Elisha McCallion, explained, “It’s been hugely significant in terms of promoting the North West region and brought tens of thousands of visitors to Derry. The city will be a stopover destination for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for the third time in 2016 and, as we prepare to host the Foyle Maritime Festival next year, we are looking forward to welcoming visitors from around the world for an even more spectacular celebration.”

Sir Robin added: “The fact that Derry City and Strabane District Council organise their maritime festival around our stopover in Lough Foyle is testament to the strength of our partnership. It is a shining example of how to maximise the benefits of hosting the Clipper Race. I am looking forward to returning to the city next summer very much.”