BELFAST BRIEFING:THOUSANDS OF people are expected to gather in Belfast this coming Saturday to take part in what the city council is promoting as "one of Europe's largest cultural festivals", writes Francess McDowell.

According to Belfast City Council, Orangefest promises a day of "music, street pageantry and great family fun". Locally, of course, the day in question is still better known as "the Twelfth".

While some people will travel to Belfast to take part in Orangefest, the majority will be there to commemorate the 318th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

July 12th is traditionally the day the Orange Order celebrates the victory of the Protestant William of Orange over the Catholic King James.

It is also traditionally the one day in July when retailers, businesses and firms shut up shop in Northern Ireland.

Closing businesses on the Twelfth is a tradition some people in the North enthusiastically support while others vehemently object to it.

Twelve years ago, a very different Orangefest played out a church in Drumcree in Northern Ireland when supporters of the Orange Order clashed with police and security forces.

For several years in a row the annual Drumcree stand-off cost the North's economy millions of pounds in lost business, trade and investment.

Drumcree may no longer hold the economy hostage but despite the many changes that have taken place on the political front in the North some habits it appears are hard to break.

The image of Northern Ireland being closed for business on the Twelfth is one of those.

Next Saturday could be one of the busiest days of the year in Belfast city centre and surrounding areas.

But few traders, businesses or stores are likely to benefit from the increase in the numbers of people visiting the city.

This is because most of them have taken the decision to close on the day although there is apparently an intention to consider opening next year.

This coming Saturday, however, high street stores such as Marks Spencer will be closed in Belfast as will the city's new multimillion pound shopping development Victoria Square.

The Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has also confirmed it does not plan to open its store in the North on July 12th.

It is a commercial decision that is replicated across towns and cities throughout the North which effectively brings retail trade to a standstill on July 12th every year.

And it is not just the retail sector which winds down on the day. Historically, this is the time of year when many firms, businesses and Government departments in the North take their annual holidays.

But according to business leaders, this is now changing - there is a new attitude to closing up shop in July - and it has nothing to do with politics.

Joanne Stuart, chairman of the Institute of Directors in Northern Ireland, says businesses in the North realise that they have to operate and compete in a global context. Stuart believes that few companies, particularly small- to medium-sized enterprises can afford to completely close their doors for two weeks.

"There has been a turnaround in attitudes in Northern Ireland when it comes to the fortnight of the Twelfth.

"There are, of course, some companies who close and for them it may be just a matter of convenience but for others, times have changed in Northern Ireland.

"There is more confidence about - people are not worried about what happened five or 10 years in July and the big issue about the Twelfth in Northern Ireland now is about how we harness its tourist potential," Stuart said.

She believes there is an opportunity to create a new Northern Ireland-wide festival around what is essentially a public holiday.

"We know that more and more people are visiting Northern Ireland every July - hotel occupancy at this time of year soars, so we need to look at this from a tourist's perspective.

"Here is an opportunity for Northern Ireland to boost its economy and generate more tourist revenue so we need to ask ourselves the question: what needs to be done to make it happen?"

Stuart believes it is time to build critical mass on the issue and wants to see retailers, business leaders and councils chiefs getting together to create an all-inclusive Northern Ireland festival with a wow factor.

This year there will be little break with tradition on July 12th.

Bars and restaurants may do a roaring trade, but elsewhere on the day it is going to be far from business as usual.