Speaking to the Mayo Advertiser recently a local tourism operator happened to mention that unless the powers-that-be do what they can to promote and support the growth of Knock Airport, it will cease to be.
Anyone taking such words lightly might like to consider just how crucial airline access from abroad is to an area such as Mayo, which currently enjoys many benefits from association with this excellent facility.
Whatever the reason however, in terms of news stories and coverage of Knock, much of it relates to the use of the airport as an exit point. The ongoing saga over the €10 Government ‘departure tax’ is also generating the wrong sort of attention for Ireland West Airport Knock.
In order to help this more-crucial-than-ever piece of our county’s infrastructure flourish, we now need to focus on highlighting the positive aspects of our airport. We have already seen the problems facing Aer Arann, which grew from offering a couple of charter flights to an international airline employing in excess of 300 people with over one million passengers per annum — now facing buyout. To prevent a similar fate happening with Knock, we must ensure we to capitalise on its vast offering.
The good news is that, with more than 600,000 people passing through the airport every year, it is no surprise to learn that lots of quirky and positive stories are also happening as a result of Knock Airport, all just as deserving of attention.
In recent weeks, for example, one of our business advertisers who targeted visitors travelling through the airport enjoyed a direct hit as dozens of suitcase-laden tourists landed in their establishment to do some business. Also, over the summer we learned that a visit to the west by celebrity duo, The Cheeky Girls, has concluded with one of the pair finding romance — of all things — with a Tuam night-club owner.
Such occurrences, trivial as they might seem — are not to be sneezed at. In addition to generating interest in our local area among a wider audience, in essence they also suggest merely a hint of the potential that is there to be tapped into from passengers travelling through Knock.
Apart altogether from the religious contingent constantly travelling to Knock Shrine — whose largesse still remains to be fully exploited by the good burghers in the village of Knock — the airport also offers exciting growth opportunities for so many others.
Anyone in business in Mayo and in areas surrounding the airport, for example, would need to be crazy not to highlight the fact that their premises or service is available within proximity of such an international facility. Whether your speciality be child-minding, fine dining, or industrial services, the reality is a fresh target market is on offer there on a plate via the passengers using Knock Airport. This is because every visitor can be regarded as a potential customer and consequently, those lining up to make it known that they are open for business within a stone’s throw of the airport, or perhaps that they specialise in offering services to visitors using Knock, might just be pleasantly surprised at the reaction.
All in all, we should be marketing ourselves not only alongside the long-established and niche tourist attractions throughout Mayo, but also remember to include Knock as part of the package. In so doing we will not only promote ourselves to a wider audience but will in turn be doing our bit to keep Knock Airport — the main international air access gateway for the West, North West and Midland regions of Ireland — alive and well in Mayo.
