Editing Belfast (section)

=== Tourism and hospitality ===
Northern Ireland's [[peace dividend]] since the 1990s, which includes a marked increase in [[inward investment]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Durkan "hopeful" For Future of Good Friday Agreement |url=http://archive.nics.gov.uk/dfp/010209f-dfp.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012210212/http://archive.nics.gov.uk/dfp/010209f-dfp.htm |archive-date=12 October 2007 |access-date=17 September 2007 |publisher=Department of Finance and Personnel }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 13 February 2002 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020213/text/20213w02.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118232203/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020213/text/20213w02.htm |archive-date=18 January 2008 |access-date=17 September 2007 |publisher=House of Commons }}</ref> has contributed to a large-scale redevelopment of the city centre. Significant projects included [[Victoria Square, Belfast|Victoria Square]], the [[Cathedral Quarter, Belfast|Cathedral Quarter]], [[Laganside]] with the [[Odyssey (Belfast)|Odyssey]] complex and the landmark [[Waterfront Hall]], the new [[Titanic Quarter, Belfast|Titanic Quarter]] with its [[Titanic Belfast|''Titanic'' Belfast]] visitor attraction, and the development of the original Short's harbour airfield as [[George Best Belfast City Airport]].
These developments reflect a boom in tourism (32 million visitors between 2011 and 2018),<ref name=":3" />{{rp|179}} and related hotel construction. This has included an entirely new phenomenon for Belfast: in 1999, the port received its first cruise ship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 October 2021 |title=Milestone for Belfast as 1,000th cruise ship arrives since 1996 |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/people/milestone-for-belfast-as-1000th-cruise-ship-arrives-since-1996-3411447 |website=News Letter |access-date=13 February 2024 |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213142754/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/people/milestone-for-belfast-as-1000th-cruise-ship-arrives-since-1996-3411447 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, Belfast welcomed 153 calls, 8% up from the pre-[[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]] record set in 2019. Ship from 32 different countries landed 320,000 passengers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 October 2023 |title=Arrival of 'Borealis' caps record season for cruise ship visits in Belfast |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/arrival-of-borealis-caps-record-season-for-cruise-ship-visits-in-belfast/a1443070018.html |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125203041/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/arrival-of-borealis-caps-record-season-for-cruise-ship-visits-in-belfast/a1443070018.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Belfast has also seen growth of "conflict tourism".<ref name=":3" />{{rp|186–191}} To the dismay of some, "tourists take photos of the division lines that are not consigned to history, but are a part of living Belfast: children play football against the walls that tourists flock to. The places and the people themselves have become a spectacle, an attraction."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Chris |date=7 May 2012 |title=Belfast's immoral 'conflict tourism' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/07/belfast-immoral-conflict-tourism |access-date=13 February 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 }}</ref> Tourist bosses and guides, however, are satisfied that the greater draw is city's other "must-see attractions",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Planet |first=Lonely |title=Must-see attractions Belfast, Northern Ireland |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/northern-ireland/belfast/attractions |access-date=13 February 2024 |website=Lonely Planet |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213142754/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/northern-ireland/belfast/attractions |url-status=live }}</ref> and its "convivial food and nightlife scene".<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2022 |title=The ultimate Belfast guide |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/northern-ireland/belfast-city-guide-best-hotels-restaurants-b2197054.html |access-date=13 February 2024 |website=The Independent |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213142754/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/northern-ireland/belfast-city-guide-best-hotels-restaurants-b2197054.html |url-status=live }}</ref>