[caption id="attachment_69523" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Part of the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim."]
It's a simple equation really.
The more reasons to visit a place the more tourists will visit. That's the theory at any rate.
North tourism chiefs are sure counting on it for 2012, a year with a particular resonance for Belfast as it marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
As things currently stand "12" is the number to focus upon. Holiday business in Northern Ireland is currently down by 12 percent over the previous reporting period, according to Alan Clarke, chief executive of the Northern Ireland tourist Board.
so anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and the opening of the Giant's Causeway visitor center will be key to recovery in 2012, according to Clarke added.
"If we are looking for any slight disappointment it is the fact that holiday business is down 12 percent and again that is why those new products coming onstream, like the Titanic and Causeway, are key to that," the Irish Independent reported Clarke as telling Stormont's enterprise, trade and investment committee.
"Northern Ireland has traditionally done well from visiting friends and families, traditionally done well from business visitors although that is a reflection of the overall economy, but the one area that we need to grow and get better at is our holiday segment."
"About 30 percent of visitors are in Northern Ireland on holiday compared to 45 percent in the Republic of Ireland. Therefore that is where the growth potential is," Clarke said.
Belfast has a series of events planned to commemorate the centenary of the Titanic on April 15, the 100th anniversary of its sinking and the deaths of 1,517 passengers and crew.
The Giant's Causeway visitor center on the Antrim coast is due to open later in the year.
