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While the rest of Northern Ireland’s tourism numbers quietly contracted in 2024, Derry City and Strabane did something almost impolite by comparison: it grew, loudly, posting a 29.1% surge in visitor spend that pushed receipts from £63.8 million to £82.4 million in a single year. Overnight trips climbed too, from 266,472 to 294,633, a 10.57% jump that earned the district the highest percentage growth of any council area in Northern Ireland. Not bad for a place that sometimes has to remind people it’s worth the drive past Belfast.

Derry City and Strabane didn’t just grow in 2024  it grew loudly, while everyone else quietly contracted.

The momentum didn’t stall. By 2025, the district had generated nearly £94 million in tourism spending, with overnight visitor numbers rising 35% compared to the year prior figures that positioned Derry City and Strabane among Northern Ireland’s top-performing destinations in a year when the region collectively generated £1.2 billion and recorded 5.1 million overnight trips. Belfast still dominated with roughly 1.5 million overnight stays, around 30% of the regional total, and the Causeway Coast pulled in 1.2 million. Derry wasn’t outpacing giants, but it was moving with a confidence that suggested it had stopped waiting for permission to compete.

Some of that confidence has practical foundations. EasyJet routes launched from Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Birmingham contributed to a 23% rise in passenger numbers at City of Derry Airport, with Ryanair and Loganair also performing strongly. A twice-daily Dublin service was scheduled to begin later in 2025, and passenger numbers were projected to grow by a further 13% between 2025 and 2026. Connectivity, it turns out, isn’t just a logistics story; it’s a signal to visitors that a place has decided to be taken seriously.

The economic stakes extend well beyond headline figures. Earlier council strategy documents credited tourism with contributing over £50 million annually to the local economy and supporting more than 5,400 jobs. Corporate business showed an 11% increase since 2023, enhancing the visitor demographic and broadening the economic base that tourism supports across the district.

A separate council evidence submission cited 4,770 tourism-related roles, representing 9% of all employee jobs in Derry City and Strabane, a proportion that makes the sector less a nice-to-have and more a structural pillar. Tourism Northern Ireland evidence noted that the council’s strategy aimed to create 1,000 additional jobs and double visitor spend to £100 million by 2025, targets baked into the district’s “A New Level of Ambition” strategy covering 2018 to 2025. Wider regional discussions have also pointed to the potential of a proposed rail link to Donegal as a means of further enhancing cross-border connectivity and drawing additional visitors into the northwest corridor.

Whether every target landed precisely is secondary to the direction of travel, and the direction, clearly, has been upward. Derry City and Strabane isn’t simply filling a gap left by regional underperformance; it’s building something with enough internal logic, jobs, infrastructure, connectivity, and genuine visitor interest to hold. To sustain and extend that trajectory, a new Tourism Action Plan covering 2026 to 2031 is currently in development, signalling that the district’s ambitions are being formalised rather than left to momentum alone.

That’s less a tourism story than an economic one, which might be exactly the point.

8 Great Staycations in Derry and Donegal That Show Why the North West Keeps Winning Visitors Over

There are few places in Ireland that pack so much into such a small area as the North West. Within an hour’s drive, you can walk centuries-old city walls, stand atop Europe’s highest sea cliffs, relax on Blue Flag beaches, explore ancient ring forts, and even come face-to-face with wolves and bears.

As someone born in Derry, I never need much of an excuse to return. Visiting my cousins in the city is always a reminder of what makes this part of Ireland so special. The welcome is genuine, the stories are endless, and there is a sense of pride that visitors immediately notice.

If you’re planning your next Irish staycation, here are eight fantastic destinations that showcase the very best of Derry and Donegal.

1. Derry City – Ireland’s Only Completely Walled City

Derry continues to defy wider tourism trends by attracting visitors looking for history, culture, food, music, and authentic local experiences. Whether you’re exploring the famous City Walls, discovering the story of the Bogside, or enjoying the city’s thriving food scene, Derry offers something for everyone.

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Things To Do

2. Wild Ireland, Burnfoot – A Journey Back to Ireland’s Wild Past

Just a short drive from Derry, Wild Ireland has become one of the North West’s most unique visitor attractions. Set within a beautiful Celtic rainforest environment, the sanctuary is home to animals that once roamed Ireland, including wolves, brown bears, lynx, and wild boar.

It’s an unforgettable day out for families and nature lovers while offering an important message about wildlife conservation and Ireland’s natural heritage.

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Things To Do

3. Buncrana – Gateway to Inishowen

Located on the shores of Lough Swilly, Buncrana combines coastal beauty with easy access to the spectacular Inishowen Peninsula.

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4. Malin Head and Greencastle – Ireland’s Wild Northern Edge

The rugged beauty of Ireland’s most northerly point attracts photographers, hikers, and anyone seeking dramatic Atlantic scenery.

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5. Letterkenny – The Heart of Donegal

Donegal’s largest town offers excellent accommodation, great food, lively entertainment, and easy access to some of Ireland’s finest landscapes.

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6. Downings and Rosguill Peninsula – Atlantic Beauty Without the Crowds

This corner of Donegal remains one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets, offering incredible scenery and some of the country’s finest beaches.

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7. Rathmullan – History Meets Tranquillity

Situated on the shores of Lough Swilly, Rathmullan is ideal for visitors seeking a slower pace and a deeper connection with Ireland’s history.

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8. Portstewart and the Causeway Coast – A Perfect Day Trip from Derry

The Causeway Coast remains one of the world’s great scenic drives and is easily accessible from Derry.

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Why the North West Continues to Surprise Visitors

Derry’s growing tourism success reflects a wider truth about the North West. Visitors today are increasingly looking for authentic experiences, genuine hospitality, and destinations with real character.

Whether you’re exploring Derry’s historic streets, standing on the cliffs at Malin Head, enjoying fresh seafood in Donegal, or watching wolves roam through the forests of Wild Ireland, you’ll discover something that keeps bringing people back.

For me, every visit home to Derry starts with family, catching up with cousins, sharing stories, and rediscovering the city where I was born. It is a reminder that while attractions and scenery matter, it is the people of the North West who make visitors feel welcome and turn a short break into a memorable experience.

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