Harmless or hazardous?
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After years of progress, Northern Ireland has once again been branded a risky place to visit. The country has had a Summer to forget with riots and bomb scares making global headlines. A few governments have now warned their citizens to stay away, but some locals say it’s still a safe destination.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a warning for citizens to avoid the parades and marches, as they "may turn violent with little warning".
They claim the move is a response to the recent upsurge in dissident republican attacks. Both the United States and New Zealand have issued similar warnings.
In the past month alone, two bombs have been defused in County Down, a car bomb exploded outside a police station in Londonderry, three children received minor injuries when a bomb exploded in a bin in Armagh and only last night a viable device was found in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.
But the Northern Ireland tourist board has assured visitors they can be sure of "a warm and friendly welcome, fantastic scenery and rich heritage". They also called the country "a safe and secure destination." Some local residents have already labelled the warning an "over-reaction."
Whether the warnings affect tourism in Northern Ireland remains to be seen. According to Tourism Ireland, only around 50,000 of the country's 1.5 million annual visitors come from Australia and New Zealand.
