Tourism NI has launched 14 new visitor experiences which highlight Northern Ireland’s strong historical connections with the US.

From jewellery-making and whiskey tours to an Ancestral Cottage Trail, ancestry research and guided tours, Tourism NI has worked with the tourism industry to develop the new immersive experiences.

The new products will enhance the tourism offerings connected to people from Northern Ireland who have influenced America - from the Declaration of Independence through to the migration of the Ulster-Scots and Irish over generations.

Funded by the Department for Communities USA-NI250 Scheme, the America250 Experience Development Programme has been launched to tie in with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which takes place this year.

Brigid Watson, from Sustainable Journeys Ireland/The Cuan, David Huddleston, Director and Deputy Keeper at the Public Record Office for Northern Ireland (Department for Communities), Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy, Liz Steele, Culture and Heritage Tourism Manager at Tourism NI, and Megan Lockhart, from Montalto Estate, pictured at the launch of Tourism NI’s new America250 visitor experiences

placeholder image — Brigid Watson, from Sustainable Journeys Ireland/The Cuan, David Huddleston, Director and Deputy Keeper at the Public Record Office for Northern Ireland (Department for Communities), Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy, Liz Steele, Culture and Heritage Tourism Manager at Tourism NI, and Megan Lockhart, from Montalto Estate, pictured at the launch of Tourism NI’s new America250 visitor experiences

Northern Ireland and the US share a rich tapestry of cultural connections, reflecting their intertwined histories and shared heritage.

In 2025, US visitors took 186,000 trips to Northern Ireland, spend 638,000 nights in the region and spent £54 million reinforcing the market’s strategic importance.

Earlier this year, Tourism NI launched a search for new experiences which combine historical authenticity, community engagement, and creative storytelling.

The experiences had to be place based, culturally rooted and reflect diverse cultural narratives, including Ulster-Scots, Scotch-Irish, and Irish contributions to American history during the late 18th Century.

The 14 new experiences, which were launched this week at McConnell’s Distillery, are based in and around Belfast, the North-West, Mid-Ulster and counties Antrim and Down.

Two of the experiences are being delivered by Montalto Estate near Ballynahinch and by Sustainable Journeys Ireland and The Cuan in Strangford.

Montalto Estate’s ‘The Rebel and the Redcoat: Montalto Estate’s Scotch-Irish Revolution Journey’, which includes guided walks, live interpretation and engaging storytelling, uncovers the fascinating links between Ulster emigration, the American Revolution and the Rawdon family of Montalto, whose story intertwines with the birth of the United States.

Sustainable Journeys Ireland and The Cuan’s ‘Ulster-Scots Heritage Trail: The Scots-Irish Story of County Down’ experience takes visitors on an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Scots-Irish story. Starting in Donaghadee, the immersive tour combines authentic cultural interpretation, stunning scenery and local cuisine.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “The connections on this island with America run deep. There are centuries of shared history, from the Ulster influence on the Declaration of Independence, to the migration of Ulster-Scots and Irish communities, whose legacy continues to shape America today.

“These connections continue to be a powerful driver for tourism. In 2025, visitors from the US made almost 200,000 trips here contributing £54 million to our economy. This clearly demonstrates both the strength of this market and the opportunity for future growth.

“I therefore very much welcome this exciting new series of America 250 tourism experiences to add to our existing tourism offering and commend all involved for the innovation, creativity and commitment that have helped bring these experiences to life.”

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “I am delighted that new tourism experiences have been developed through Department for Communities funding that reflect our shared cultural heritage with the US and build on the legacy of connection between Northern Ireland and America.

“America250 is a historic milestone, and it is right that both local and international audiences can now find out more about those close links and our common history that continues to bind us together.”

Liz Steele, Culture and Heritage Tourism Manager at Tourism NI, said: “These new experiences are a welcome addition to our tourism offering.

“The participants have used a diverse range of themes to bring to life our cultural and historic connections with one of our largest out of state markets.

“America250 presented us with opportunity to develop this programme to create experiences that will motivate our visitors to actively engage with the destination, not just this year, but for years to come.”