Plans to put east Belfast on the map

The cranes at the shipyard are an iconic Belfast image

By Ross McKee
BBC News

It has been home to some of the biggest icons in popular culture and now plans are afoot to put east Belfast on the tourism map.

George Best, Van Morrison, and CS Lewis are among the famous figures that hail from the section of the city dominated by the shipyard cranes.

And the East Belfast Partnership is hoping a three month pilot programme aimed at showcasing the area will put it in the frame for future holidaymakers.

The organisation's socio-economic officer, Cailin Hardy, said it had received so much interest from people wanting to act as tour guides for east Belfast that it had been necessary to run two courses.

"We put together a tourism sub-committee that had representation from politicians from the area, the private sector and community representatives," she said.

"From that group, we developed a logo for east Belfast tourism featuring the shipyard cranes Samson and Goliath.

EASTERN VIEWS Click for gallery

"We ran training support for local people who were interested in being tour guides and it was open to all.

"There was so much interest that we ran two consecutive courses. There were 17 people in total on the courses.

"For those that were interested we would be seeking funding for relevant progression training so they could become registered guides for east Belfast."

Heritage trail

Cailin said the logo would be featured on a new website that would showcase the area when it is launched on 1 December.

"The purpose of the website is to showcase east Belfast," she said. "We would like to promote local events, attractions and tourism initiatives."

The partnership is also due to release a free fold-out map featuring a heritage trail of famous 'faces and places' of east Belfast.

"It is a reversible map, on one side is faces on the other side is places," Ms Hardy said. "The places featured are the likes of Queen's Island, Stormont Castle and its grounds and the Odyssey.

"For places, the map highlights George Best, Van Morrison, CS Lewis, making reference to where they were born and where they grew up."

Ms Hardy said the Partnership would also host a familiarisation tour of east Belfast for "key tourism players" including Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau staff and the other area partnerships in Belfast on 3 December.