Tourismplaying major rolein area

“Hosting major golf events plays a key role in realising our ambitious plans to grow tourism to a £1billion industry by 2020. The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019 represents a massive opportunity, with 200,000 spectators expected and a potential economic return of £70million.

“For our part the Executive must make sure we have the necessary infrastructure in place not just for tourism but for businesses. The five mile long A26 Frosses dualling scheme between Glarryford and the A44 Drones Road junction on which construction got underway last April represents a £55m investment by the Executive. Work is progressing well with approximately 40% of the works completed. Turning to rail, phase 1 of the Coleraine to Derry upgrade was completed in March 2013 at a cost of £26.7m and work to upgrade the rail track between Derry and Coleraine is underway involving the full re-signalling of the line and the addition of a passing loop which is expected to cost £46m and will be substantially completed by the end of 2016.”