News Release -
Shannon Development launches new €100,000 Tourism Innovation Awards Scheme
Tourism Awards of up to €25,000 available
Shannon Development has just launched a new €100,000 Tourism Innovation Awards Scheme for the Shannon Region. Under the programme successful projects will be eligible for Awards up to a maximum of €25,000, or 50% of eligible expenditure.
The aim of the Programme is to support the development of innovative tourism ideas, concepts, projects that will fill strategic gaps, and help develop a range of new and existing tourism products in the Shannon Region (counties Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary and South West Offaly).
“Shannon Development is committed to pioneering new initiatives and enhancing existing tourism projects. As part of this commitment we are making available a fund of €100,000 to support projects which can help enhance the profile of the Shannon Regions as a tourism destination. Our goal in this initiative is to encourage research and innovation in tourism, which will result in the growth of tourism services, products and marketing initiatives”, says John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
The programme will be open to private sector interests, public bodies, semi-state organisations and voluntary organisations.
“Ideally the scheme will assist award recipients in a number of areas for example, with piloting new product concepts, feasibility studies, plans for business expansions, or development works. Inevitably, requests for awards exceed the amount of funds available, each project will be considered on its merits in line with stated criteria. The proposed outcome of this scheme will be the development of innovative tourism projects,” says Ms. Phil Deegan, Tourism Product Development Executive, Shannon Development.
A similar Awards Scheme was run by Shannon Development three year ago which at that time assisted 16 projects around the Shannon Region valued at over €1.3 million including the Burren Centre in Kilfenora. At that time the awards enabled the Centre to develop the Westropp Resource Study Room.
Full details of the current Programme and an application form can be obtained by writing to Phil Deegan, Tourism Product Development, Shannon Development, Town Centre Shannon, Co. Clare, Tel: 061 – 361555 or email: deeganph@shannondev.ie Closing date for receipt of completed application forms is Wednesday 7th March ‘07.
Shannon Development is launching a new Tourism Innovation Awards Scheme. A similar Awards Scheme was devised by the Company in 2004 which assisted projects valued at €1.3 million. At that time seven tourism projects from Co. Clare received assistance from Shannon Development among them was the Burren Centre in Kilfenora. At that time the awards enabled the Centre to develop the Westropp Resource Study Room. Pictured at the Burren Centre in Kilfenora, Co. Clare are (left); Phil Deegan, Tourism Product Development Executive ,Shannon Development with Frances Connole, acting Manager, Burren Centre Kilfenora.
End
For further information please contact:
Nandi O’Sullivan
Public Relations Manager
Tel: +353 61 710259
Mobile: +353 86-2371510
Fax: 061 363180
E-mail: Click Here