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From Terrorism to Tourism; Northern Ireland Rising

Northern Ireland's troubled history belies its beautiful scenery, cultural attractions and warm hospitality of the locals. After years of sectarian violence, this small country perching on the tip of the Republic of Ireland is finally getting the tourist recognition that it deserves.

With the troubles now fading into history, Northern Ireland is selling itself as a success story, building on the political stability and the lowest rate of unemployment in the UK. Like its neighbour, the Republic of Ireland which has experienced rapid economic growth over the last decade, Northern Ireland has now entered a similar period of development, and the country aims to tap into perhaps it's most underused source of income: tourism.

And with incredible scenery, plenty of cultural attractions and warm local hospitality, it shouldn't be too difficult for Northern Ireland to enter the mainstream as a tourist hotspot. Indeed, the world renowned guide book publishers, Lonely Planet, have this year named Northern Ireland as one if its top 10 "must see" destinations.

Rather than try to lock their troubled history into a time capsule never to be opened again, Northern Ireland is instead using it as a tourist attraction. Though many of the impressive sectarian murals are now being replaced with images of national sporting heroes, Belfast's so called "Terror Trail" has several more permanent attractions in the form of the notorious Crumlin Road Gaol, and some of the sites where violence, such as on Blood Sunday, took place. The thinking behind the promotion of the terror trail is that such history should be remembered, to avoid ever making the same mistakes again.

One Northern Irish local commented:

"It's all part of the living history of Northern Ireland and is every bit as valid as Giant's Causeway or other symbols of our country. You can't just brush all that history under the carpet and I think visitors will gain a valuable insight into Northern Ireland by experiencing these tours that explain our troubled periods. Visiting sites of previous conflict helps people understand history - and understanding history hopefully helps us to avoid repeating it."

The terror trail is expected to help fuel the steadily growing tourist industry, which has reported high hotel occupancy rates last year (64% annual average), but there's still plenty of growth to capitalise on; Northern Ireland's tourist industry currently contributes the lowest direct gross value (a governmental measure of the contribution the economy) of all the counties in the UK, and considerably less than the Republics of Ireland's contribution (3.4%).

Travel to Northern Ireland is getting increasingly easier, with several budget airlines setting up bases there, and also travel by ferry is an option for those who prefer to support the greener choice. It's possible to get a ferry to Larne from Fleetwood, or to Belfast from Stranraer, Douglas, Troon or Liverpool.

The time of troubles has passed and the time of tourism has arrived, but Northern Ireland's violent history is not being forgotten and the terror trail is likely to attract even more visitors from around the world.

Matthew Pressman is a freelance writer and frequent flyer. When not travelling, he enjoys golf and fishing.

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