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Last year the Twelfth in Bangor attracted 80,000 people to
the town, many of them from overseas. Anyone who was in Bangor
would have noted the crowds along the route of the parade,
sometimes three and four deep on the footpaths.
It was a family gathering, a festive occasion with cameras
clicking every step of the way. Bangor was the Twelfth designated
as a "flagship" by agreement between the Orange
Order and the tourist authorities. No better flagship could
have been selected to highlight the outstanding potential
of the Twelfth to bring in crowds and tourist revenue. But
the numbers attending other celebrations also make for exciting
reading: Coleraine 50,000, Richhill 40,000, and so on.
Of course, there is a great deal of 'internal tourism' going
on - people who are travelling to one town or another because
the demonstration in their area is taking place there.
But as Bangor clearly showed, there were also a great number
of tourists from Europe, Asia and North America present.
A few years ago the Grand Lodge carried out a baseline audit
of members to try and identify what monies were spent on or
around the Twelfth.
Those responding were asked how much they would have spent
on refreshments, stalls, travel and so forth on the day itself,
as well as ancillary spend in the run-up to the Twelfth. Questions
were also asked about visitors and their length of stay.
The end result was a conservative estimate that £6.1
million was generated as a result of the Twelfth.
Of course there will always be those, peddling their own
agenda, who will say that you have to compare the cost of
policing the Twelfth with any benefits. The fact is that if
there were less politically driven protests by those same
people and their cohorts, then there would be much less need
for police manpower in certain areas. Others point to the
supposed Twelfth exodus of people who leave for the Twelfth
fortnight.
This is a disingenuous argument. Are we to assume from it
that, were the Twelfth to be cancelled, the same people would
cancel their holidays in Spain, France, the USA or elsewhere
and stay at home? Indeed, where is the evidence that people
leaving on holiday generally are doing so because they want
to avoid the Twelfth celebrations?
The real truth of the matter, which does not suit some people,
is that the Twelfth of July and surrounding period has enormous
tourist potential.
In our ongoing discussions with the Northern Ireland Tourist
Board and Tourism Ireland this point has been well made by
the Institution, we would hope with some success. Certainly
it was significant that both NITB and Tourism Ireland sent
observers to Bangor to view the flagship Twelfth of 2006,
and that Bangor was highlighted as a Twelfth for tourists
to visit.
In follow-up meetings we addressed some of the findings of
the Bangor event, which should prove of general assistance
to others in 2007.
One of the points made by the observers, for example, was
that from the tourist's point of view, better signage would
be helpful.
If you are from the USA, Canada, France or Japan, for example,
and arrive in a Twelfth venue, will you find signage which
directs you through the town to the 'field'? You should expect
to, if the organisers are gearing up to encourage tourists.
There is also the aspect of what to do with the tourist when
they have seen their first hour of the parade and decide to
have a diversion. Signs showing a non-parade route way to
the field would be useful, but so too would be having something
different to look at - an indoor exhibition and teas, for
example, or stalls just off the route (if shops are not open).
The observers felt that the parade, while clearly impressive,
would be unlikely to hold the full attention of a tourist
for the duration as they had no local knowledge, and this
is something we have to acknowledge: not everyone feels that
sense of affinity as we do, while taking part is probably
more exciting than being a tourist and watching your 40th
banner of King William and the 50th flute band pass by.
This is not to say that the parade is not a draw: of course
it is, and its uniqueness should be built upon. There is enormous
educational potential in lodges ensuring that their individuality
comes across.
If a lodge is celebrating a major anniversary, something
should be carried at its head and perhaps at least some members
should be dressed in period costume. If a lodge evolved, from
a military warrant, then a few of the members could be dressed
in 18th or 19th century uniforms. If the lodge won the Grand
Lodge Best New Banner or Recruitment or Lodge Community Activity
Award in 2006, then a small banner to that effect could be
displayed.
Some within the Institution have concerns that the festival
aspect may dilute the message of the banners and our adherence
to the Reformed Faith. This need not be. There is much that
can be developed which will be educational and help set in
context our cultural heritage and inheritance, including that
of our Reformed principles.
The Field is also somewhere that attention should be paid
as well as the parade, meanwhile.
With greater tourist numbers expected in Northern Ireland,
the Field at the Twelfth will always be an attraction. But
sometimes the field can be disappointing. Apart from the short
religious service, which has, and always should have, a central
place in the proceedings, there are occasions when little
else is provided.
In some areas music has been placed on stage, largely through
grant assistance. Otherwise, it is often down to individual
bands to hold an impromptu concert or lambeg drummers to compete
with each other.
All of this should be co-ordinated. The last thing that should
be happening is that drummers should be letting forth as the
platform proceedings take place, for example. If a tourist
experience is about anything it is getting a flavour of the
real people whose country you are visiting. On several trips
to the USA I have been privileged to meet acquaintances who
were a channel to the ordinary people rather than the "have
a nice day" cheesy smile for the tourist types.
Similarly, we have a unique glimpse to offer the tourist.
A glimpse of a major cultural event, organised and managed
by ordinary people.
A glimpse of a living culture which draws on a legacy from
the Battle of the Boyne, the Protestant Reformation, the Diamond
in 1795.
And something which gives an awesome sense of a cultural
identity.
What we do is good but can probably be elaborated on and
polished. Not just for the tourist, but for ourselves. The
Twelfth is our Bastille Day, our Fourth of July, and much
more. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to make
of it as much as we possibly can.
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