NI ‘unattractive to gay tourists’

There have been claims that Northern Ireland is seen by some gay people as an unattractive holiday destination.

At the opening event of Pride Week on Monday evening, the keynote speaker said despite progress, much work still needs to be done, to change how the gay community is perceived.

Some 25,000 people turned out to watch the Belfast Pride event in 2011, with organisers insisting this year’s event will be watched by even bigger crowds.

However a lecture hosted by Amnesty International has heard claims from gay rights campaigner Patrick Strudwick that Northern Ireland is a cold-house for gay tourists.

“Only the other day I put out a tweet on twitter asking my LGBT friends would they consider going to Belfast for the weekend,” he told UTV.