Londonderry, or Derry as it is also known, is the regional city for Ireland North West, a cross-border region with a population of over 300,000 people. At the heart of Ireland North West is a fast developing knowledge corridor stretching from Letterkenny in County Donegal to Coleraine in County Derry. As the second largest urban centre in Northern Ireland with a 95,167 urban core, and the fourth largest on the island of Ireland, Derry is the hub of this corridor.

With 500,000 visitors per year, Derry is recognised as one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in Ireland. Tourism is now a credible economic generator with £25m in revenue and supporting 3,500 full-time jobs. Derry and the North West are experiencing consistent annual growth in day visitors, overnight stays, total spend and increased dwell time in the city.

The historic walled city of Derry has been designated as one of only five Signature Tourism Projects by the NI Tourist Board. Signature project designation seeks to achieve international standout for the NI tourism product through creating a world-class visitor experience at key tourist destinations. The signature projects are recognised as being capital intensive and over £47m of public and private investment has been committed to the Walled Signature Project.

The city is witnessing considerable physical transformation within the city centre and in its suburbs. Derry’s urban regeneration company Ilex is master-planning the regeneration of two former Ministry of Defence, prime river-front sites comprising c.42 acres. Derry is also set to expand with residential developments earmarked at locations on the edge of the city (the H2 site alone proposes the construction of 3,500 new dwellings). There are still a number of prime sites and properties located within the city centre which are ripe for investment and development for a range of purposes including hotel development, retail and related commercial activity.

The physical environment within the city centre is being transformed. The stock of historic buildings is being regenerated through the Townscape Heritage Initiative and the Built Heritage Programme. A Visitor Orientation System has been implemented and a City Lighting Scheme is planned. A major Public Realm Improvement Scheme valued at £8m is being programmed for the city centre’s two major public spaces, Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place. Derry City Council is animating the public realm through its programme of monthly speciality street markets. This investment is contributing to increases in hotel occupancy rates, performance of visitor attractions and increased retail/leisure and commercial activity within the city.