Members of the local tourism industry took part in a tourism networking event for the Connemara Coast and Aran Islands area in Peacocks Hotel, Maamcross, Co. Galway today Wednesday, 13th March.
The event was organised by CAITN (Connemara and Aran Islands Tourism Network) and supported by Fáilte Ireland along with key partners Galway County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta. It provided an update on the Visitor Experience Development Plan for the Connemara Coast and Aran Islands launched by Fáilte Ireland in March 2018, along with a networking session for tourism businesses to encourage cross selling within the area.
Speaking at the event, Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, said:
“We developed the Visitor Experience Development Plan in collaboration with local stakeholders along the Connemara Coast and Aran Islands, to encourage continued growth in visitor numbers to the region by extending the tourism season and spreading business across all parts of the region. Today’s Connemara and Aran Islands Tourism Networking Event not only provided the local tourism industry with updates on this plan and the supports available to them to help grow tourism, it also provided a great opportunity to share information and encourage referrals amongst tourism businesses, which will help increase dwell time in the area.”
Explaining the importance of the tourism industry working together, Alan Farrell, Acting Director of Services at Galway County Council, said:
“Tourism is a key economic driver for Galway with fantastic opportunities for Connemara and the Aran Islands. I believe that collaboration is critical for the success and growth of tourism and the related sectors including the food and cultural sectors for which Galway is so renowned but in which there is much more to be achieved. It is important that the various stakeholders including public, private, educational and community work together to support each other and to achieve common goals. This event builds on previous work undertaken by many key partners and the Visitor Experience Development Plan provides a fantastic framework to ensure a strategic and planned approach to maximising opportunities and addressing needs of the region. Galway County Council are delighted to be part of the initiative and we look forward to the event and to working with Fáilte Ireland and other key partners to realise our shared vision for tourism development.”
Meadbh Seoighe, Údarás na Gaeltachta, added:
“The key to attracting visitors to visit and stay in Connemara is for the industry to co-operate and work together to promote this wonderful region. We believe the Irish language and the Gaeltacht offers an additional experience for visitors and any Connemara or Aran Islands business that engages with visitors, whether located in the Gaeltacht or not, can benefit from the language. Anyone in this business or about to open a business should come along and share their story. We can’t promote each other unless we know about each other. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.”
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