Westminister group in Derry

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is visiting Derry today as part of its inquiry into promoting the tourism Industry in Northern Ireland through the tax system.

The Westminster group will be holding a public evidence session at Stormont before visiting a number of locations, including Derry.

Committee chairman Laurence Robertson said: “I’m looking forward to meeting the people in Northern Ireland whose livelihood is dependent on the tourism industry and hearing about the challenges they face.

“Among the places we are visiting is Castle Ward, one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones, and it will be interesting to hear what impact a world famous TV programme has had on attracting visitors.”

During their visit to Derry, they will speak to local businesses about the legacy of Derry’s City of Culture in 2013 and the challenges they face in staying competitive with a much lower VAT rate across the border.