Derry is continuing to build momentum as a visitor destination, with the launch of a new five-year Tourism Action Plan setting out a clear focus on growing the local visitor economy and creating further opportunities for businesses across the city and wider district.

The ‘Shaping Our Tourism Future 2026–2031’ action plan aims to build on the progress already made by strengthening Derry and Strabane’s tourism offering, developing new visitor experiences, supporting business growth and raising the profile of the destination at home and internationally.

The strategy also recognises the importance of continued collaboration across the tourism sector, bringing together Derry City and Strabane District Council, Visit Derry, Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland, industry and local communities to help deliver its ambitions.

That ambition is already reflected in the scale of events taking place across the city and wider North West, with the City of Derry International Choir Festival preparing for its biggest festival to date this month.

Taking place from 22–25 October, the 2026 festival will welcome more than 100 choirs from across Ireland, the UK and Europe – the first time the festival has passed the 100-choir milestone since it was established in 2013.

The festival also demonstrates the wider reach that major events can bring to the region. Alongside its headline concerts and international competition, the programme includes school and youth activity, workshops, community performances and choral trails, with events taking place across Derry as well as Strabane, Letterkenny, Buncrana and Limavady.

More than 1,000 children and young people will take part in the festival’s schools programme, while visiting choirs from countries including France, Germany, Sweden and Estonia will compete in the Oak Tree of Derry International Competition.

This wider tourism momentum is also being reflected through investment within the local tourism and hospitality sector. The recent acquisition of the Waterfoot Hotel by local hotelier Ciaran O’Neill has been accompanied by plans for a long-term investment programme to modernise and enhance the established hotel, including investment in its facilities, people and overall guest experience. This development adds further capacity to Derry’s hospitality offering, with key investments like this supporting our future tourism growth.

For Derry Chamber, the combination of the new Tourism Action Plan, the continued growth of events such as the Choir Festival and the planned investment in the Waterfoot Hotel, demonstrates the opportunity to build a stronger and more connected visitor economy across the North West.

As the Action Plan looks ahead to 2031, the focus will be on continuing to develop the offerings and experiences that bring people to our region as well as ensuring that tourism continues to create opportunities for businesses across the city and district.