News Release -
Tánaiste launches trail blazing initiative
Mary Coughlan, T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment launched a new ‘trail blazing’ initiative at the National Ploughing Championships in Kilkenny this week (Tuesday 23rd September ’08). The Tánaiste launched a new tourism website as part of the Shannon Region Trails Programme, a €2 million Shannon Development initiative aimed at establishing the Shannon Region as a world-class destination for walking, cycling, water-based and other outdoor activity pursuits.
Launching the new website the Tánaiste said, “It is great to see this kind of initiative which has the potential to generate additional visitor spend in less developed rural areas. Ireland and the Shannon Region has always been at the forefront in terms of tourism product development and this new website will be a tremendous resource for domestic and overseas visitors. Many of the new trail developments require access to the countryside and would not be possible without the support and good will of landowners and this co-operation must be acknowledged.”
Speaking at the launch Mr. John King, Tourism Director, Shannon Development said, “We know from international research carried out on tourism trends in the adventure holiday sector, that there is enormous potential in the high spend walking, cycling, water-based trail holiday markets. Just looking at walking and cycling as examples, over 511,000 overseas visitors participate in walking holidays in Ireland annually and spend almost €340 million and almost 102,000 overseas cyclists holiday in Ireland and spend almost €80 million annually. If we are to exploit this growing market then we need to ensure that we have the services which customers demand. This is why we initiated the trail-friendly charter, and the new dedicated trails website which has the potential to attract additional visitors to less developed areas of our Region.”
Shannon Development has committed a support package of €2 million to encourage product promoters to develop new and upgrade existing trails. The new website provides an abundance of information including detailed directions and maps for trails, such as walking, cycling, mountain biking, equestrian, canoeing, surfing, scuba diving available around the Shannon Region in counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and South Offaly.
Visitors to the website www.shannonregiontrails.ie can download and bring with them detailed walking and cycling maps. The website also provides contact details for trail-friendly accommodation providers and activity operators, as well as outlining the benefits of trails, and events listings.
The Shannon Region Trails Programme involves branding a fully integrated network of trails to highest international standards. Other initiatives underway include two new brochures on surfing and canoeing.
“The new trails website provides tourism accommodation and other tourism activity operators around the Shannon Region with an opportunity to participate in extensive international web based marketing campaigns for 2009 and beyond. The Company has already implemented a wide-ranging branding system and launched its trail friendly accommodation initiative earlier in 2008 and we will continue to work with various groups to upgrade existing trails and develop new ones,” said Flan Quilligan, Shannon Development Tourism Project Executive.
Shannon Development attended the event to showcase the entire range of activities and projects which it undertakes on behalf of the Shannon Region including: new and existing tourism product developments; and enterprise property and broadband solutions; and work life balance solutions with their innovative E-Towns projects.
“The National Ploughing Championships have gained considerable profile within the business community over the year, last year the event attracted over 165,000 people from all walks of life, including many business people. Over 900 exhibitors, covering multiple sectors including economic development, tourism, services, and retailing took part. Our aim in attending is to reap the benefits of the event, which we feel offers a unique opportunity to profile Shannon Development’s entire range of activities on behalf of the Shannon Region,” said Mr. King.
The Taoiseach Brian Cowen visited the Shannon Development pavilion at this week's National Ploughing Championships. Pictured meeting the Taoiseach are (l-r): Eugene Brennan, Shannon Development Director, Development and Marketing; the Taoiseach; Denis Duggan, Shannon Development Manager, Birr Technology Centre; and John King, Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
Shannon Development attended the Ploughing Championships, which attracted over 180,000 visitors, to showcase the entire range of activities and projects which it undertakes on behalf of the Shannon Region including; new and existing tourism product developments; and enterprise property and broadband solution and work life balance solutions with their innovative E-Towns projects. Pictured at the launch by the Tanaiste of a new Shannon Region Trails website are (l-r); Flan Quilligan, Tourism Product Development Executive, Shannon Development; Mary Coughlan, T.D., Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Siobhan King, Shannon Development Tourism Officer, Co. Clare and John King, Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
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