Is your area the next European Destination of Excellence?

3rd Phase of EDEN competition launched

The search is on to find the next European Destination of Excellence.  Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, is currently inviting entries for the third phase of the European Union competition which is currently being held in each of the member states. This year’s theme of excellence is Tourism and Protected Areas. The competition, which is funded by the European Commission, is looking for tourism destinations in Ireland which use a protected area (e.g. nature reserve, national park, geopark, protected scenic landscape, etc.) as the basis of their tourism offering and who succeed in developing tourism in a sustainable manner.

The aim of the project is to promote destinations where the economic growth objective is pursued in such a way as to ensure the social, cultural and environmental sustainability of tourism.  The winning destination will receive a photo shoot of the destination along with €5,000 for business development and an awards ceremony.

The closing date for entries is 4pm Thursday 26th February 2009. Full competition details are available at www.failteireland.ie/eden or call 01 6024262 or your regional tourism office.
 
Clonakilty District was awarded the title of European Destination of Excellence – Best Emerging Rural Tourism Destination in 2007 and Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula was awarded European Destination of Excellence – Tourism and Local Intangible Heritage in 2008, in the first and second phases of the competition respectively.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
 
Laoise Bray 
Communications Officer - 086 0404788/01 8847135 
 

Note for editor

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
 
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 320,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year. 
 

Information on EDEN

Eligible destinations will be those where the visitor density is low; where specific regular events such as festivals, themed exhibitions and visit opportunities are focused on local intangible heritage assets; and where the tourism offer is managed in such a way as to ensure its social, cultural and environmental sustainability.
 
Protected Areas can include the following: Natura 2000 sites (SACs, SPAs), Natural heritage Areas (NHAs), Nature Reserves, Designated scenic landscapes (as designated in Local Authority Development Plans) and any other areas designated for statutory protection by a national or local authority by virtue of its natural, cultural, scientific or geological interest. 

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