Derry’s new Visitor Information Centre has been officially opened by Mayor Brian Tierney. The facility, in the heart of the city centre and adjacent to the historic City Walls, will act as a hub for tourists looking for information on the area’s top visitor attractions and events.
Hamilton Architects led the team which delivered this innovative £1m project to create an engaging and immersive visitor experience, providing a gateway for the exploration of the whole North West of Ireland.
Paul Millar, Partner of Hamilton Architects, said: “We are delighted to have steered this exciting, world class visitor facility to completion for the North West at a time when the region needs an economic boost and so many people are seeking to staycation.
“While delivery of the project was challenged by the pandemic, the entire project team pulled together and we were able to get back on track very quickly. We couldn’t be happier with the result and would encourage people to experience the centre for themselves.”
Mayor Tierney said the opening of the new visitor information office marked a significant milestone for Derry and the wider region.
“This is a fantastic facility and I am hugely impressed with the work that has been done to create this world-class centre in the heart of our city,” he said. “This is a very important tourism capital project for Council and all our partners.
We believe that it will greatly benefit our tourism business and domestic and overseas visitors and allow us to showcase and promote our tourism product in a much more animated way to a wider audience. This facility will enhance the entire Waterloo Place area of the city and bring new life and activity into a key retail area in the city centre.”
Funding for the project came from the Council, the Department for Communities, the Department for Economy and Tourism NI.
Chief Executive of Tourism NI, John McGrillen, said: “The new visitor centre will provide an interactive experience with enhanced digital offering and, combined with the new central location, this will allow visitors to easily access information on everything the city has to offer.”
Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the Visitor Information Centre breathed new life into the city centre at a difficult time for traders, while Economy Minister Diane Dodds said she hoped as many people as possible would use the centre to take advantage of the many wonderful tourism experiences right on their doorstep.
