05. Tourism & Recreation

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Additions are shown in green text.

Deletions are shown in red text with strikrthrough

Delete existing text in Section 5.4.2 and replace with new text as outlined below:

5.4.2 Fáilte Ireland’s Settlement Approach

Fáilte Ireland has identified a strategic approach to building tourism considerations into the settlement hierarchy. This involves the identification, prioritisation and strengthening of the 3-tier concept of ‘Always On’ (Hub), ‘Seasonal’ (Service Centre) and ‘Attraction’, with maximum development and minimal seasonality at the Hub. Westport and Ballina are identified as ‘Hubs’ as both have the greatest potential offering to tourism. In terms of ‘Service Centres’, these include settlements such as Newport and Beal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet).

5.4.2 Regional Tourism Plans (RTPs)

Fáilte Ireland are in the process of preparing Regional Tourism Plans for each of the four Regional Experience Brands (Dublin, Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands). The purpose of the Regional Tourism Plans is to identify the sustainable tourism development priorities that will help to unlock the commercial potential of the region bringing benefits to all stakeholders and industry. Each plan will be prepared based on the VICE model which is a methodology for working towards sustainable tourism that seeks to strike an appropriate balance between the needs of the Visitor, the Industry and Community and the Environment. The plans will be for the period to 2025 and will be grounded in the Fáilte Ireland’s new Corporate Strategy. There will be a strong spatial element to the plans which will seek to identify where development should take place in order to unlock the tourism potential of the region.

Amend wording of TRP 3 as follows:

To support the work of Fáilte Ireland and the strategic growth of tourism development in the County through:

(a)The implementation of Fáilte Irelands designations ‘Always On’ Hubs, ‘Seasonal’ Service Centres and ‘Attractions’ within the county.

(a)To support the implementation of the Wild Atlantic Way Regional Tourism Plan.

(b)The implementation of Fáilte Irelands Visitor Experience Development Plans (VEDP’s) for Clew Bay and North Mayo/Erris.

Amend wording of TRP 6 to include the following:

TRP 6

To promote and support the continued strategic development of Westport, Ballina and Castlebar as tourist destinations through:

(a) Supporting the enhancement of Westport as a major tourism centre in the West of Ireland, building on its reputation as one of Ireland’s premier visitor destinations along the Wild Atlantic Way, as a heritage town and gateway to areas of outstanding natural and built heritage.

(b) Supporting the development of Westport’s key assets e.g. Westport House Demesne, Quay area, extension of the Great Western Greenway and additional greenway linkages e.g. Westport-Cong Trail and National Coastal Path.

(c) Exploration of the development potential of Westport and Ballina harbour areas in terms of marine related tourism and extensive marine resources.

(d) Promote the significant tourism potential of Ballina and its location as a prominent stop on the Wild Atlantic Way, a gateway to Northwest Mayo, the Céide Fields, and internationally renowned salmon fishing, through investment in tourism related infrastructure, including Monasteries of the Moy Greenway from Belleek to Killala, incorporating EuroVelo1 Atlantic Coastal Route, Mountain Biking Trail via Ballina connecting the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park to the National Mountain Bike Trail at Coolaney and ongoing development of the Wild Atlantic Way, including Discovery Points at Crockets Town.

(e) Promote the development of Castlebar as a nationally important Sports Tourism and Adventure Hub, including leveraging existing sports assets and existing natural and built facilities at Lough Lannagh Holiday Village.

‘(f) Promote the development of Castlebar as a nationally important events, conference and business tourism hub, including through leveraging existing local assets such as Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Castlebar Campus, Castlebar Regional Training Centre, Breaffy House Resort, the Royal Theatre, and expanding the scale and capacity of hotel and other accommodation within the town.

Amend TRP 6 - General Tourism Policies to include the following:

TRP 6:

To promote and support the continued strategic development of Westport, Ballina and Castlebar as tourist destinations through:

(a) Supporting the enhancement of Westport as a major tourism centre in the West of Ireland, building on its reputation as one of Ireland’s premier visitor destinations along the Wild Atlantic Way, as a heritage town and gateway to areas of outstanding natural and built heritage.

(b) Supporting the development of Westport’s key assets e.g. Westport House Demesne, Quay area, extension of the Great Western Greenway and additional greenway linkages e.g. Westport-Cong Trail and National Coastal Path.

(c) Exploration of the development potential of Westport and Ballina harbour areas in terms of marine related tourism and extensive marine resources.

(d) Promote the significant tourism potential of Ballina and its location as a prominent stop on the Wild Atlantic Way, a gateway to Northwest Mayo, the Céide Fields, and internationally renowned salmon fishing, through investment in tourism related infrastructure, including Monasteries of the Moy Greenway from Belleek to Killala, incorporating EuroVelo1 Atlantic Coastal Route, Mountain Biking Trail via Ballina connecting the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park to the National Mountain Bike Trail at Coolaney and ongoing development of the Wild Atlantic Way, including Discovery Points at Crockets Town.

(e) Promote the development of Castlebar as a nationally important Sports Tourism and Adventure Hub, including leveraging existing sports assets and existing natural and built facilities at Lough Lannagh Holiday Village.

‘(f) To support the implementation of the feasibility study entitled Moy Estuary, A Development Strategy, A Shared Vision, where appropriate.

 Insert new Policy after TRP 7, wording below:

TRP: To work with relevant authorities to promote the concept of creating Ireland’s first “National Marine Park” in Killala Bay from Easkey Head to Kilcummin Head. This would enhance the Economic, Environmental and Social Values of Killala Bay and promote the understanding and enjoyment of these special qualities by the public.

 Add Scuba Diving to 1^st line of 1^st Paragraph on page 94:

Water sports activities are also very popular across coastal, lakes and river locations, including swimming, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving and sailing.

Amend TRO 9 as follows:

Encourage sensitively designed and located development which provides for the appreciation, interpretation, upgrade and provision of access to natural habitats, scenic vistas and heritage and geoheritage features for the benefit of rural tourism, subject to normal planning and nature conservation consideration.

Insert new objective after TRO 13 to read as follows:

TRO: To work with key stakeholders, including transport providers, to promote, support and facilitate the provision of sustainable rural transport modes to key tourist locations within the county.

Amend section 5.4.3.3 Key Tourism Pillar 3: Flagship Infrastructure Projects, Wild Atlantic Way – Discovery Points as shown below:

Section 5.4.3.3

The Wild Atlantic Way has been very successful tourism initiative by Fáilte Ireland, particularly for the West of Ireland. It showcases the natural assets and outstanding scenery of the West and has been an important economic driver for County Mayo to date. Mayo County Council recognises that the Wild Atlantic Way is essential to the future of tourism and economic growth in the county. The Wild Atlantic Way is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world, stretching approximately 2,500km. The section of the Wild Atlantic Way which runs through Mayo is a 543km coastal drive, from Killary Harbour in the south, to Ballina in the north of the county and beyond into County Sligo. The route contains 35 Discovery Points, three of which are Signature Points (Downpatrick Head, Keem Bay & Killary Harbour). Pivotal to the success of the initiative is investment in necessary infrastructure along the way, including signage and parking facilities. Signature Discovery points are worthy of significant investment and works have been completed at Downpatrick Head. Planning and design of a unique and architecturally striking interpretation signature discovery point is ongoing for Keem Bay, including improved walk access and improved toilet facilities. It is intended that this Signature Point will magnetise visitors to the Wild Atlantic Way and Achill, in particular”.

Amend Policy TRP 27 to include the following:

TRP 27

To support the promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way in its role to grow the economic contribution of tourism along its route, through the upgrade and improvement of the touring network, facilities and visitor attractions through:

(a) Exploration of the development of signature discovery points to assist and secure Mayo’s position as ‘The Heartbeat of the Wild Atlantic Way’.

(b) Working with all relevant stakeholders and Fáilte Ireland to facilitate the erection of standardised signage for tourism facilities and tourist attractions along the Wild Atlantic Way.

(c) Working with relevant landholders and recreational/tourism agencies to increase access to the countryside and our coastal areas, and to ensure maintenance and access to the existing network of trails, paths, and tourist sites along the Wild Atlantic Way.

(d) Supporting the exploration of the development of new tourist services, parking and facilities or upgrading/extension of existing tourist services, parking and facilities at tourist sites along the Wild Atlantic Way.

(e) Build the concept of sustainability firmly into ongoing planning processes for tourism and outdoor recreation. In conducting tourism and recreation planning processes during the lifetime of the Mayo CDP, work towards adopting an ecosystem-based approach that assesses capacity of landscapes, communities, and natural resources to provide a basis for decision making that is firmly based on the principles of sustainability

(f) Apply environmental measures as presented in the Wild Atlantic Way Operational Programme, the SEA and NIR of the Destination Mayo Strategy and support monitoring of environmental effects associated with tourism growth to ensure cumulative and in combination effects are avoided.

(g) To support the preparation of a masterplan and/or visitor traffic management plan at Downpatrick Head-Discovery Point.