www.nitb.com
Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI)
Tourism Team
Invest NI
Bedford Square
Bedford St
Belfast
BT2 7ES.
t: 028 9069 8509 or 028 9069 8256
e: tourism@investni.com
w: www.investni.com
Overview
Invest NI is committed to helping Northern Ireland tourism businesses improve product quality,
business processes and their capability to compete competitively in the national and global
marketplace. Invest NI provides grant support to tourism accommodation providers for product
development and capability development. Financial assistance may be available for business
that are, or will be, certified by NITB as a provider of tourism accommodation.
Support for Product Development - tourism accommodation business with a clearly defined
growth strategy and a capability of obtaining visitors from outside Northern Ireland, may be
eligible for financial assistance (0-25% of eligible project costs) to help start, expand or improve
the physical quality and capacity of the business.
Support is not available through Invest NI for the provision of hotels within 10 miles of Belfast,
new start Bed and Breakfast establishments, log cabins, single unit self-catering apartments or
caravan parks.
Support for Capability Development - capability support is available to all Invest NI clients.
Advice and guidance can be provided to help solve problems, improve skills and identify business
improvements in tourism businesses. Experts are available across a wide range of areas
including skills development and training, e-business, strategy and efficiency and environmental
practice.
Principles for Invest NI support: - to qualify for Invest NI support projects must satisfy the
following:
Entrepreneurship, innovation and internationalisation
Invest NI will speak to businesses that can satisfy one or more of these key themes and
show that entrepreneurship, innovation and/or internationalisation are central to their
project offering.
Product Quality
Invest NI is keen to work with tourism businesses that are customer focused and market
driven. Minimum standards exist in relation to the support offered.
Invest NI will discuss the merits of a project, but it will not receive formal consideration
until the appropriate planning approvals are in place, as and where required.
NITB, St Anne's Court, 59 North Street, BELFAST, BT1 1NB | Tel +44 (0)28 9023 1221 | Fax +44 (0)28 9024 0960 | Textphone +44 (0)28 9044 1522
www.nitb.com
Market
Upon project completion, the business must be clearly differentiated from existing
products in the marketplace; be able to demonstrate a Unique Selling Point capable of
attracting and holding tourists; and, be an exemplar of quality business practice.
Displacement
The onus is on the business owner to prove that the market opportunity exists for the
project. He/she must be able to demonstrate that it will not simply displace business from
other similar projects. All proposed marketing activity, target markets and customers will
therefore be critically reviewed.
More details can be found at: www.investni.com/tourism_support_report
NITB, St Anne's Court, 59 North Street, BELFAST, BT1 1NB | Tel +44 (0)28 9023 1221 | Fax +44 (0)28 9024 0960 | Textphone +44 (0)28 9044 1522