Published Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Last week's four-day festival has been hailed as a triumph for the local tourist industry with around 800,000 people visiting the maritime extravaganza - pumping as estimated £10m into the economy.
It was the second time the world famous fleet had dropped anchor in Belfast after its first visit in 1991.
But councillor William Humphrey, who heads up the council's civic events programme, said negotiations had already been started to ensure the city would not have to wait another 18 years to see the sails again.
"It is vital that we build on the huge success of this past weekend, and work to ensure that the Tall Ships return to Belfast with all due speed," he said.
'Accolade'
Councillors have held negotiations with Sail Training International - organisers of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge - with a view to bringing back the flotilla at the earliest possible opportunity.
"This past weekend truly placed Belfast on the international map, and once again showed that we are more than capable of organising successful events of a global scale," councillor Humphrey added.
"Of the 800,000 people who came to Belfast to see the ships, 100,000 were holiday-makers who had made the trip especially to be here for the event.
"More than 1,000 crew members also stayed in Belfast, some of them for ten days, and they all said that they received the friendliest and warmest welcome of any port. Given that this year they had already visited Tenerife, Bermuda and Boston, that is quite an accolade."
While more than half a million people visited the actual event in Belfast Harbour, a further 250,000 lined the shores to watch the farewell Parade of Sail on Sunday.