Fáilte Ireland’s first in-person briefing in Galway city post-Covid sees a meeting of minds on boosting the city’s potential.
Galway city’s tourism industry – including more than 150 businesses – gathered this week for a special briefing event by Fáilte Ireland to develop a 5-year Destination Experience Plan (DEDP).
The DEDP is aimed at driving and sustaining tourism in the area along with identifying new opportunities that will encourage tourists to stay longer in destination.
“As the only city on the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway is in an excellent position to evolve and deliver fresh, exciting, new tourism experiences in the future that match growing trends”
The event featured a panel discussion with a number of tourism representatives including Paul Keeley, Director of Regional Development at Fáilte Ireland, Patricia Roberts, Owner of No. 1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa, Limerick, Nuala Mulqueeney, Managing Director, Aillwee Burren Experience and Dominic O’Móráin, General Manager at Lough Inagh Lodge, Connemara.
The event also included showcases from a number of new and enhanced Galway City experiences including The Black Gate Culture Club, Galway city Gin Distillery, Yoga Mara, Experience Gaelic Games, The Irish Dance Experience, Aran Island Ferries and St Nicholas Collegiate Church. Exhibiting at the event were Galway Convention Bureau, Galway Food Tours, Galway Tour Guides Association, Micil Distillery, Wildlands and Galway Atlantaquaria.
Gathering of Galway tourism tribe
“As the only city on the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway is in an excellent position to evolve and deliver fresh, exciting, new tourism experiences in the future that match growing trends,” said Miriam Kennedy, head of the Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland.
“Galway is already considered a leading tourism destination with high international appeal and an ambitious, co-ordinated industry coupled with this upcoming 5-year plan will align the exciting developments across the sector to ensure Galway city remains on the must-visit list for years to come.”
As part of the session, Travel Editor of the Irish Independent & Independent.ie Pól O’Conghaile spoke about some of the emerging trends in travel and tourism, and how Galway is best placed to leverage these opportunities.
Main image: At the event were Patricia Roberts, Owner of No 1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa, Limerick, Pól O’Conghaile, Travel Writer, Irish Independent, Nuala Mulqueeney, Managing Director, Aillwee Burren Experience, Dominic O’Móráin, General Manager at Lough Inagh Lodge, Connemara, Margaret Jenkins, Fáilte Ireland, Paul Keeley, Director of Regional Development and Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way, Fáilte Ireland. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure
