Three Mayo areas are to be included in Fáilte Ireland’s “Get out There” charter initiative which aims to promote the west of Ireland as an outdoor and adventure playground. Achill, Westport and Ballina will join Connemara in the pilot programme with Ballina being targeted as an angling specific region.
To start, Fáilte Ireland is delivering a series of briefings and training courses in the four hubs, aimed at all members of the community.
The charter initiative is designed to develop a wide range of outdoor products, services and events in these areas and through these, win new and additional business for the region. The initiative is being rolled out in partnership with accommodation (Fáilte Ireland registered and approved only ), activity, and food and beverage providers in these areas, and will demonstrate that participating premises are appropriately informed about the region’s outdoor opportunities and will welcome and engage with visitors and encourage them to move around the region.
To begin with, four hub areas have been selected within the region and over time others will be developed. A hub is an area some 30km around an urban base and within which there is the basis of a rich product base for outdoor and adventure tourism linked with quality accommodation, food and cultural offerings.
Fáilte Ireland have said they are continually encouraging a partnership approach within tourism centres in the west, such as the bundling or packaging of services to tourists combining accommodation with things to do and see.
“It is hoped the local community in these areas will rise to the challenge and group together to collectively benefit from this great opportunity. Community support is vital in getting this initiative to a successful level, and to this end, we are calling on all businesses in the areas, who come in contact with visitors, to support this project,” said Brian Quinn, Fáilte Ireland.
A series of briefings and training courses will now be delivered in the four hub locations, aimed at all members of the community who come in contact with visitors, to assist them with developing the skills and knowledge they need to enhance the visitors’ activity holiday experience in the west of Ireland. Further training will take place, following the busy season, in the autumn period.
The initial briefings and training events will take place as follows: Ballina - Tuesday May 26 and June 9 in the Ramada Hotel (angling specific ); Clifden, Monday June 15; Westport, Tuesday June 16; and Achill, Wednesday June 17.
Anyone within these communities, whether or not directly involved in tourism, is welcome to attend, from hotels and guest houses to restaurants, publicans, retail businesses and transport services. To register for any of these events contact Fáilte Ireland West by telephoning Grainne Kilcoyne at 098 25739 or e-mail [email protected].
