MLAs Philip Brett and Diane Forsythe marked Northern Ireland Tourism Week this month (25 September) with a visit to a family’s holiday park in Cranfield, near Newry.
The two members were at Chestnutt Holiday Park at the mouth of Carlingford Lough where they saw how the business was helping to support many other small enterprises in the area.
Mr Brett is the economy spokesperson for the DUP and chairs the Committee for the Economy at the NI Assembly, and Ms Forsythe serves as the MLA member for South Down.
They were welcomed by Geoff Chestnutt and his brother Richard who are directors of the company which owns four parks in the “Kingdom of Mourne”.
The business was founded in the late 1960s by their parents Freddy and Rosemary, and is now one of the region’s largest providers of holiday caravans for private owners.
Comprising around 700 pitches in total, the parks also offer holiday homes and cottages to rent, plus facilities for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.
The two MLAs were given a tour of Chestnutt park’s 25-acre grounds which, explained Geoff, have long had a special appeal to lovers of natural beauty and tranquil surroundings, where the mountains sweep down to the sea.
The Assembly members also officially declared open a major development project which will see the creation of a new five-star washroom facility for the park’s touring guests.
In keeping with the park group’s “buy local” policy, contractors from the region will be carrying out the work which is expected to be completed in time for next year’s holiday season.
Many local businesses, said Geoff, benefit from the spending of visitors to the parks which also helps to support the employment opportunities they provide.
The four parks in the Chestnutt group – all active members of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association – sustain around 40 jobs, and provide training opportunities for those seeking a career in tourism and hospitality.
During their tour of the park, the MLAs saw how the business was helping to protect the natural world with various initiatives, such as habitat creation, to support wildlife.
The park also minimises its carbon footprint by generating its own green energy with high-efficiency solar panels and the use of a biomass boiler for heating.
“We were delighted that Philip Brett and Diane Forsythe were able to take time out to visit our park, and to learn more about what we are achieving here,” said Geoff.
“We were able to outline a number of our hopes and ambitions for the future, and to share some of the challenges which the parks sector is now facing.
“It is clear that both of our guests recognise the importance of tourism to Northern Ireland, and the economic and employment benefits it brings to regions such as this.”
Philip Brett MLA, Chairman of the Economy Committee said: “Holiday parks play a vital role in sustaining and growing the tourism economy here in Northern Ireland, providing high-quality experiences that keep visitors returning year after year.
“They support local jobs, boost rural communities, and showcase the very best of what our country has to offer. I am delighted to see Chestnutt Holiday Park’s continued investment into the sector, strengthening the visitor offering and ensuring Northern Ireland remains a welcoming and competitive destination for all.”
The organisers of Tourism and Hospitality Week say the event’s aim is to showcase an industry which generates £1.1 billion for Northern Ireland’s economy, and supports more than 70,000 jobs.
There is more information about the Chestnutt group’s parks and the staying options they provide on the company’s website at www.chestnuttholidayparks.com