Fáilte Ireland has announced the establishment of Fáilte West, its new tourism development forum for the region. This announcement comes as the group met for their inaugural meeting at the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit, Galway last week. Fáilte West will be responsible for spearheading and overseeing a three-year development agenda for tourism in the region with the active support of the Fáilte Ireland organisation.
A key aim of the Forum will be to identify and implement a range of measures designed to boost overseas visitors to the region. The Forum is also expected to have a significant role in influencing national tourism policy as it affects the region. Fáilte West replaces the former West Regional Tourism Development Board. Its membership is drawn from the tourism industry, business interests, the Local Authority and Fáilte Ireland. Fáilte West will be chaired by Padraig O Ceidigh who is currently Chairman of Aer Arann.
The other members of the forum are John Crumlish, managing director, Galway Arts Festival; Marian Coy, President, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology; John Coyle, Renvyle House Hotel; Cllr Oliver Crowe; Owen Hughes, Portwest; Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager; Darren Madden, Clew Bay Hotel; Brenda McTigue, Clareview House; Martina Moloney, Galway County Manager; Bernadette Mullarkey, Bane & Mullarkey Marketing Consultants; Fergus O’Halloran, The Twelve; and Fiona Monaghan, Fáilte Ireland Head of Operations - West
Commenting afterwards Fiona Monaghan, Head of Operations, Fáilte Ireland in the West, stressed “I would like to thank all the former members of our outgoing Regional Tourism Development Board for their hard work and significant contribution to developing local tourism over the last few years.
The meeting was very successful and it is the hope, and purpose, of Fáilte West to provide a renewed focus on how we can develop tourism in the region over the next three years.
I am delighted to have such valuable experience on board and am confident that it will result in a very valuable contribution to tourism in our region.”
