European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ireland bbb Bim  int heavily armed British soldiers Are an everyday sight on the streets in Northern Ireland especially in Belfast and Londonderry. National geographic Brave travellers tour tense Northern Ireland by Donald Smith in a less contentious age surely Northern Ireland would. Be a tourist s Paradise Ulster six counties have Emerald Fields wind swept moors fish Rich lakes and Rivers hiking trails geological curiosities castles Golf courses hotels gourmet restaurants and upscale shopping districts. In the Southeast Corner the celebrated mountains of Mourne sweep Down to the sea. Of course the wonder is not that Ulster s tourism Industry in t booming it s that tourists come at All. They do bolstered by the government s determined promotion efforts travel to Northern Ireland was up by 6 percent in 1992 the fourth consecutive record year. The increases have come despite decades of the troubles As the Irish Call the provisional Irish Republican army s terrorist Campaign to throw off British Rule. Sectarian strife has saddled the Region with a decidedly a tranquil image along with such other hot spots As former Yugoslavia and the Caribbean Island nation of Haiti. We do have a consular information Sheet that talks about the terrorism in Northern Ireland says Nyda Budig of the . State department. But i Don t think it really keeps people away. The violence in t directed toward  Northern Ireland s worst violent siege since the mid1970s erupted in october 1993, when an Ira bomb killed nine protestants in the capital City of Belfast and triggered bloody reprisals against catholics by the Ulster defense association and other protestant extremist groups. However in August the Ira suspended its 25-year violent Campaign against British Rule in what seems to be a budding peace process. So far the truce is holding although protestant extremists have set off several bombs in Dublin and in Catholic West Belfast. We still feel extremely confident that Northern Ireland has a lot to offer As a Holiday destination and that people will still continue to come says Philippa Reid of the Northern Ireland tourist Board. Thus far neither Side of the terrorist Campaign has targeted tourists. The sights of armoured land rovers and checkpoints manned by soldiers in Battle fatigues unsettle Many at first although some say these Hallmarks of life in Northern Ireland actually make them feel More secure. There Are very few places in the world these Days where you can put your hand on your heart and say it s perfectly Safe says Reid. I think Northern Ireland is safer than most. Statistically speaking we have a better rate than Many american cities of people not being mugged raped murdered or  in fact the tourist Board admits that a few vacationers Are drawn to Ulster just Ito see the Arena of conflict. Falls Road a Catholic stronghold and Shankill Road in protestant territory have drawn curiosity seekers just As the Berlin Wall once did. Sinn fein the Legal political party associated with the outlawed Ira has produced a tourist s map identifying Sites where important events of the rebellion have taken place. Belfast enjoys an image problem in the Media Andrew Brady of the Belfast development office tells National geographic. Much of it regrettably is All too  nevertheless Ulster is an increasingly popular destination for americans. Travel by . Citizens jumped 21 percent last year. Tourism officials say the Mast popular attraction for americans who tend  wealthy Are the Region s Superior Golf courses. Of Northern Ireland s 1.2 million annual visitors More than half came from great Britain. Travel from Continental Europe was up by 16 percent led by increased visitors from Germany the Netherlands and France. Tourism one of Ulster s top five industries injects about $250 million a year and some 10,000 jobs into the Economy. Tourism officials generally try to downplay the armed struggle. They schedule events that Are plainly nonpolitical in nature especially athletic Jones such As International Golf tournaments and boating spectacles. A we Klong tall ships rally in 1991, featuring 80 Graceful sailing vessels from around the world Drew 500,000 spectators to Belfast outnumbering its population of 300,000. Last july some 100,000 came to see the Belfast Telegraph Irish Powerboat grand prix. The Belfast Telegraph Irish senior Golf tournament headlined by famed Golf pro Gary player Drew 30,000 in August. Shopping also a Neutral activity is available at its Glitz est at the City s new Castle court Centre a sprawling covered mall with 70 shops including numerous trendy . Concerns and of Street parking for 1,600 cars. The Marble floors fountains and towering Central atrium Are completely at Odds with the City s grim reputation for Urban warfare. Most of the Timo the life we conduct in this City is Normal says Brady standing next to a department store counter pungent with French and italian perfumes. This is an area where people feel comfortable and  Donald Smith is a National geographic staff writer september 29, 1994 stripes