MayoNorth.ie and Ballina Chamber are hosting a free informal tourism expo taking place in the Ballina Manor Hotel from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday next May 24. The event is designed to showcase the tourist offering throughout the Ballina Municipal District and Enniscrone.
Members of the public are welcome to drop in and learn about all there is to offer in the region and avail of the chance to win some great prizes. North Mayo’s location on the Wild Atlantic Way provides the region with an excellent opportunity to attract visitors, however in order for the local economy to benefit there must be a compelling reason for them to stay. The region is blessed with stunning landscapes that are an unspoilt haven for walkers, cyclists, and anglers, but it has been under-promoted down the years.
Anne-Marie Flynn, manager of MayoNorth.ie, said: “One of the biggest challenges we face when promoting ourselves as a region is the lack of knowledge-sharing. Many of us are unware of what is on offer in our region, so how can we tell our visitors? It may come as a surprise to many, but there is a huge range of activities, including archery, clay pigeon shooting, spa breaks, cycling, hiking, murder mysteries, kayaking to name a few, as well as an excellent selection of top-class visitor attractions and museums. We want to get people to slow down on their journey along the Wild Atlantic Way and spend some more time here discovering the secret gems of Mayo north.”
Mags Downey Martin, manager of Ballina Tourist Office, said: "Mayo North has an abundance of activities and things to see and do – it’s a hidden gem with a plethora of natural resources to be enjoyed. Collectively as a chamber and tourist group we want to share this information and get everybody involved in promoting the area and selling the region.”
Anne-Marie Flynn added: “We also need to 'think tourism'. Every time a visitor arrives in our locality, we need to make their experience great. Whether it’s in the hotel, the petrol station or the supermarket, every visitor needs to get that warm welcome.”
The event is open to anyone in the region who offers a tourism product, and the aim is to get as many people as possible into the room, so that providers and the public can see all there is to offer in the region.
