GoT: Paul O’Callaghan, Innovate NI Manager, Jacqueline McCann, Facilitator, Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI and Sam Harding, Managing Director, Game of Thrones Studio Tour.
From an innovation perspective, the industry has had to continually innovate to adapt to the digital revolution which has swept through the travel and tourism industries in recent years. Today’s traveller is accustomed to being able to do practically anything from their mobile device; from booking flights, checking in, and booking hotel rooms, unlocking their hotel room door, ordering room service, accessing information, booking experiences, sharing these with their peers and sharing their opinions instantly on review websites.
With new destination choices continually emerging, Northern Ireland is under intense pressure to remain both attractive and competitive. In this hard-fought environment, we must be authentic, distinctive, innovative, and creative in our approach.
To support tourism businesses across Northern Ireland in adopting an innovation-first mindset, Tourism NI in partnership with Innovate NI held a series of interactive ‘Innovate Tourism’ workshops, demonstrating how innovation is key to business growth, whilst also increasing awareness and knowledge about what innovation means in a tourism context. Those in attendance at the workshops held across various towns and cities in NI, received an introduction to the Innovation Fundamentals of the Innovate NI Framework through immersive, hands-on activities and support to effectively recognise and capture innovative work and achieve innovative recognition. Designed to support businesses to embed innovation structures and processes in their businesses, the workshops gave access to experts and instilled an innovation process which took the business from ideation, to selection, to testing to commercialisation, saving money and making businesses more productive and sustainable in the long run.
Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI, Paul O’Callaghan, Innovate NI Manager and Claire Bacon, Titanic Belfast.
We understand the need for practical and tangible takeaways and so those who attended the workshops acquired the skills and methods required to optimise their current offers and transform their business into an innovation powerhouse. A number of ideas have been generated from these sessions and are due to take part in a follow up session in March 2024, which will see them properly implemented within the business.
There are a number of key areas in which businesses within the tourism industry can look to make innovative change for their betterment including advancements in technology, novel approaches in sustainability and immersive experiences.
Whether its technology, sustainability or travellers’ preferences, the rising trend of innovation shaping the tourism industry is here to stay and should be embraced by businesses to help the sector and Northern Ireland to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
At Tourism NI, we will build on our culture of innovation and creativity to deliver positive change and will pursue excellence and world class ideas to make our industry more competitive and sustainable. Having a focus on innovation will increase incomes, improve productivity levels, provide opportunities for all our people, create a net zero economy and showcase our brilliance both locally and globally.
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