Fáilte Ireland launches strategy to drive sustainable tourism along the Wild Atlantic Way
Fáilte Ireland has launched a new Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023-2027 for the Wild Atlantic Way which will provide a framework for sustainable tourism development across the west coast of Ireland.
The new Wild Atlantic Way Regional Tourism Development Strategy is one of four new strategies that outline a vision for tourism and contain a five-year strategic framework for sustainable tourism development across each of Fáilte Ireland’s four regional brands - The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Dublin.
By capitalising on the uniqueness of each brand they set a clear path ahead for the development of new and enhanced visitor experiences, building greater capacity and capability into the industry, and wiprovide a clear strategy for attracting visitors that will stay longer and spend more.
For the Wild Atlantic Way, this means growing tourism revenue at a faster rate in areas that are currently less visited relative to the more popular destinations over the period of this strategy.
Commenting on the launch of the strategies, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said: "I welcome the publication of Fáilte Ireland’s Regional Tourism Strategies, which will improve visitors’ experiences in destinations in every county in Ireland, supporting tourism and enabling regional economies to thrive.
"With the support of Government and my department, the cooperation of Local Authorities, the tourism industry and local communities, these strategies will play a key role in improving the social, cultural and economic contribution of tourism across Ireland’s regions.
"Tourism is a significant economic sector in Ireland, and these strategies will support the development of tourism across all 4 of Fáilte Ireland’s regional brands, bringing new attractions and experiences for visitors and creating new opportunities for communities and businesses across the country."
The Regional Tourism Development Strategies will be activated across every region through a series of local area action plans, referred to as Destination and Experience Development Plans (DEDPs).
Over the course of this strategy, in addition to a number of DEDPs already in progress, Fáilte Ireland will create 16 new Destination and Experience Development Plans (DEDPs) in the Wild Atlantic Way region.
Fáilte Ireland’s commitment is for every part of the country to have a detailed tourism development action plan created in partnership with local stakeholders.