To ask the Minister for the Economy, in relation to Action 4 of the Tourism Vision and Action Plan: 10 Year Plan, whether he intends to develop a local action plan for the Mourne Mountains.

Regional Balance is one of the key priorities in my Department’s Tourism Vision & Action Plan: 10 Year Plan, launched on 15 January 2025. Tourism NI is in the early stages of developing a Destination Stewardship Framework to sustainably develop tourism destinations across the North.

Tourism NI is currently procuring services to support the co-creation of the Destination Stewardship Framework. This process will include consultation with key stakeholders, including the Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, Mourne Heritage Trust and stakeholders in the wider Mournes area.

A pilot Destination Stewardship Plan will be proposed, based on one of the tourism destinations identified as part of the Framework development. This pilot destination plan will be selected by the specialist contractor in partnership with Tourism NI, using appropriate research, data and evidence. The pilot plan will inform further destination plans in the coming years.

Furthermore, when , Conor Murphy MLA was Finance Minister he commissioned the Innovation Lab to engage with communities and stakeholders on the long-term future of the Mourne Mountains, with the aim of informing the Executive’s approach going forward. The research pointed towards the importance of the Mournes and the positive impact it has on health, wellbeing and culture, as well as connecting communities.