Upgrading and enhancing the Wild Atlantic Way, broadening the regional spread of tourism visits, publishing a new national tourism policy to 2030 and a new programme to tap the worldwide Irish diaspora – the Year of the Invitation – are among the development plans for the domestic and inbound tourism sector included in the Draft Programme for Government.
In the draft document, the incoming Government said: “This Government is committed to growing Ireland’s tourism industry. Through support for Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, we want to showcase Ireland as a high-quality and accessible destination for both national and international visitors.”
The Government said it will seek to work with Fáilte Ireland to develop “a balanced regional spread of tourism throughout the country, promoting and advancing the Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin.”
The enhancement of the Wild Atlantic Way will coincide with the development of a new coastal route along the east and south coast.
The Year of the Invitation project would seek to have the same positive effect as The Gathering project, in 2013, by reaching out and enticing the Irish diaspora to visit the island to return to their roots.
The new Government also wants to develop the tourism potential of State-owned lands around the country and to create a strategy to develop a new tourism brand ‘Ireland of Islands’, marketing the country’s small island destinations as unique tourist experiences.
As well as improving the country’s public transport infrastructure, the new Programme for Government will include continued development of cycle ways and greenways nationwide.
There is also a stated aim of investing in regenerative tourism projects in the midlands, with the help of the EU Just Transition Fund.
