The Role of Local Authorities in Promoting Tourism Martina Moloney Galway County Manager

1. The Role of Local Authorities in Promoting TourismMartina MoloneyGalway County Manager

3. Importance of Tourism

4. Revenue generated nationally

5. Where are the visitors going to?

6. Visitors to the West 2009 Galway attracts 70% of visitors and 71% of Tourism revenue

7. Tourism Revenue in Galway

8. Overseas visitors to the West

9. Overseas visitors- where they stay

10. Getting around

12. Key attractors is place, people and culture - We need to establish Galway as the key Outdoors, Recreational and Activity Destination

13. What Local Authorities need to do? • Who’s job is it? • Know your product, manage accordingly! • Identify Gaps • What are emerging trends/markets eg activity-based tourism..what do tourists want?? • United, integrated approach, both within the Local Authority and working with other relevant agencies, egFailte Ireland, OPW, Communities, Coillte, Waterways Ireland • Framework:County Development Plan – Supportive of appropriate development • Infrastructure – Access, Marine facilities, • Marketing: Constantly selling message

14. Examples of initiatives being implemented by Galway County Council to support Tourism promotion • Play to our strengths • Information Provision - Use of www.galway.ie as a key information tool • Use of New Technology: i-phone Apps, Audio tours etc • International Promotion, supporting Tourism Ireland • Working with Fáilte Ireland to prepare and implement Destination Plans: • Events and Festivals • Support for Events and Festivals 30+ Events and festivals supported • Support for Community Tourism projects • Funding for Arts Activities • Heritage Projects…Ireland Reaching out Diaspora Project, Athenry Walled Towns, Graveyard mapping project

15. Activities • ‘Greenway’ Project and Cycling Routes • Downloadable Audio Walking Tours Urban Walking Tours eg in Athenry, Ballinasloe, Gort, Loughrea, Portumna, and Tuam • Downloadable Audio Driving Tours – East Galway • Heritage Audit of LoughDerg • Looped walks • Signage • Beaches/Green Coast Awards: activities • Piers and Harbours/Marinas • Support for Tidy Towns and Village renewal

16. Initiatives supported(not always cash) • Sports Events • Feile na Gael 2011 • Tour of Connemara Cycle 230 participants • Run Connemara – for the first time ever, a World Championship Sport Event will take place in Connemara in 2011 The International Association of Ultra Runners (IAU) World Trail Championship –Run Connemara held on July 9th • Ironman • Loughrea 10K • Hosting Conference on Outdoor Sports & Recreation-Tourism, Economic and Lifestyle May 17-19, 2012 • Volvo Ocean Race

19. Significant history of Local Authority investment in Tourist facilities • Cliffs of Moher • Waterford Crystal • Lough Key Forest Park • Wicklow Goal • The Mayo Greenway • Foynes flying boat Museum • Dundalk Town Museum • Wexford Heritage Park

20. Marketing • Galway Film Partnership: ‘Screenwest’ • Initiative to attract more Film Companies to use Galway as a location for Film Production(€220m spend in 2010) • Showcase potential areas for film location • Streamline process for film-makers re permitting etc. • Liaison with Production companies and film scouts: Familarisation visits • International exposure eg ‘The Guard’ • 2009: 18% of all tourists cited film as reason for visit..(income generation estimated €312m)

21. Conclusion • We have the Product • We need the income • Its everyone’s business! • Working in partnership…including with Failte Ireland • Focus on appropriately managing and developing the product • Supporting the local business • Harness networks in Ireland and abroad • PROMOTION