Changing the clocks to give an hour of extra sunlight in evening could reap
Northern Ireland at least £6.34m a year in extra cash from tourists.
The Tories are today launching a task force to investigate bringing in
Double Summer Time, which would mean clocks were moved forward by two hours
in the summer months, and one hour in winter months.
On GMT, around 35% of the population are asleep when the sun rises in winter
and so make no use of the extra daylight, experts claim.
Shifting that extra hour to the end of the day could boost outdoor
activities and bring in an extra 2% in revenue from visitors.
A similar trial took place in the late 1960s, when the UK remained on
British Summer Time all year round, but was shelved after opposition from
Scottish farmers and road safety campaigners, who were concerned about the
darker mornings.
But the plans would only be pursued if they won the backing of the Northern
Ireland Executive, and the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales.
Jeremy Hunt, shadow spokesman for tourism, said: "Daylight saving is an
area we will not proceed with unless there is a broad consensus.
"The National Farmers' Union has now said that because of changes in
technology that they do not have, in principle, an objection to it.
"It could mean a huge boost in terms of the number of people coming to
the UK.
"We are adamant that we want the same time zone for the whole of the UK.
"
The annual UK Tourism Survey recorded a slight increase of 2% in trips to
Northern Ireland made by domestic visitors - those from within the UK -
between May and December 2006, the latest figures available. But spending
remained static at £317m - the same as the previous year.
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