Together we can help our tourism industry recover while keeping everyone safe. – Lyons

Date published: 13 August 2021

Topics:

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has encouraged visitors to help ensure the tourism industry is ‘Good to Go’ by supporting local businesses.

The Dairy, Larne. Pictured Left to right: Cathy McCormick, Tourism NI, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons and Shezzell Horner, General Manager of The Dairy.
Left to right: Cathy McCormick, Tourism NI, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons and Shezzell Horner, General Manager of The Dairy.

The Minister said:

“I am pleased to see so many people enjoying holidays at home this year. Our tourism industry has been one of those hardest hit by the pandemic restrictions.

“Our tour operators, visitor attractions and accommodation providers have worked hard to introduce new safety measures and precautions to help ensure visitors and staff are kept safe.     

“One way visitors can ensure precautions are being taken is to keep an eye out for ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark. The UK industry standard accreditation, which businesses display in their premises and online, indicates they have agreed to comply with Covid-19 safety guidelines, like social distancing and recommended cleaning processes; and also to undergo spot checks to ensure procedures are being maintained.

 “Currently over 1,800 businesses in Northern Ireland have been awarded with the ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark with more coming on board all the time.”

The Minister added:

“As we get out and about more this summer, I would also encourage everyone to take the pledge to take care of Northern Ireland.

“By signing up we are all committing to make a difference to take care of each other, to take care of the land, and to take care of local businesses. Together we can help our tourism industry to recover while keeping everyone safe."

Notes to editors: 

  1. Picture capitions:
    • The Dairy, Larne. Pictured Left to right: Cathy McCormick, Tourism NI, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons and Shezzell Horner, General Manager of The Dairy. 
  2. More information on the tourism industry in Northern Ireland can be found at the TourismNI website
  3. Sign the Visitor Pledge by visiting the Discover Northern Ireland website. 
  4. Businesses interested in gaining the industry standard can visit the 'We're Good to Go' page of the TourismNI website.
  5. The Department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the Department’s internal records management system. The Department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The Department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.
  6. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI
  7. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk
  8. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110

Share this page

Back to top