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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 draw in crowds and
tourist revenue.
But the numbers attending other celebrations also make for
exciting reading:
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 there.
But as Bangor clearly showed, there were also a great number
of tourists from Europe, Asia and North America present.
In 200* 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
somewhat flat-tyred 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?
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, which clearly impressive,
would be unlikely to hold the full attention of a tourist
for the duration as they had no local knowledge. Having once
hosted an American visitor who, having watched the parade
with rapt attention on the way to the field, slept in the
car while the return parade passed by, 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
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 should be dressed
in 18th 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 should 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.
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, 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 staged, organised and
managed by ordinary people.
A glimpse at a living culture which draws down 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
unity.
What we do can be elaborated on and polished. Not just for
the tourist, but for ourselves. The Twelfth is our Bastille
Day, our July the Fourth, and much more. We owe it to ourselves
and our children to make of it as much as we possibly can.
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