In the past decade the impact of the troubles in Northern Ireland has decreased dramatically and the country is now characterised by its genuine commitment to move into a new stage in its history. With strong communities, working together to shape the future, Belfast is also one of the safest cities in the UK with regard to crime figures.
The newly visible prosperity, bolstered by large-scale urban regeneration projects, foreign investment and a thriving tourist industry, underpins a lively, ambitious and future-gazing community with a growing confidence in its ability to build on its cultural heritage and to reach out to its international partners.