Write a commentLocal MLA Megan Fearon has asked Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster to consider Newry as a location for the headquarters of new tourism agency, Tourism NI.
The Sinn Féin MLA said "The Hunter Report recommends the NI Tourist Board should be rebranded as Tourism NI as part of a wider strategy to attract more tourists to the North.
"I welcome the enterprise minister's support for the recommendations of the Hunter Report to co-locate the new Tourism NI and Invest NI offices after 2016.
"Having both of these locations in the same place is a good idea as it will help coordinate the tourism development strategy until the creation of a single all-Ireland tourism body.
"I have asked the minister to consider locating the new headquarters of the two organisations in Newry.
"In order to attract more tourists we must market the island of Ireland as a single destination and Newry, as a border city, is the perfect place from which to coordinate an all-island approach.
"Most visitors fly into Ireland through Dublin or Belfast and Newry is halfway between the two airports and is at the centre of the east coast economic corridor."
