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Annalong couple John and Myrtle Haugh are experienced business people, both having run their own businesses for a number of years.
The couple recognised that there is growing demand for high quality, self-catering accommodation in the Mourne area, and decided to invest in a new project to build five four-star self-catering cottages.
They turned to Invest Northern Ireland for support to allow them to move quickly and tap into the anticipated boost in visitors to Northern Ireland in the coming years.
Invest NI offered £100,000 of support for the project in Annalong, called Dunnywater Cottages.
Myrtle Haugh says: “Dunnywater Cottages will be situated in an ideal location for people seeking relaxation but with easy access to a range of leisure and craft activities nearby.
“Invest NI’s support is enabling us to move quickly to take advantage of the increase in visitor numbers expected in Northern Ireland in line with the draft Tourism Strategy to 2020.”
Tourism generates 4.9 per cent of Northern Ireland’s Gross Domestic Product and employs around 40,000 people. The Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland aims to double the income generated from tourism to £1 billion between 2010 and 2020.
Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI’s Director of Food and Tourism, says: “Invest NI is working with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to develop our tourism sector and promote Northern Ireland as a must-visit destination. Our support for projects like this will help develop a valuable tourism infrastructure here.
“The Dunnywater Cottages project will provide quality, self-catering accommodation for people coming to Newcastle and Mourne, an area of outstanding natural beauty and one of the NITB’s signature projects.
“Invest NI’s support is essential in allowing this project to proceed quickly, which will add value to the tourism offering in the area.”
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