Consultation on tourism development plan for inland Mayo region
FÁILTE Ireland is hosting a series of community meetings in the inland Mayo region from April 3 to engage stakeholders and gather insights for the sustainable development of tourism as they begin work on a Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) for the area.
Tourism businesses, community groups, tourism bodies, agencies and volunteers are invited to attend one of six local meetings and share their views on how the area, which encompasses Cong, Ballinrobe, Tourmakeady, Claremorris, Knock, Castlebar, Kiltimagh, Charlestown and Swinford, can be developed to grow the destination’s tourism impact over a five-year period.
The community meeting schedule is as follows.
Thursday, April 3: Lydon's Lodge Hotel, Cong, 2 - 3.30 p.m.; Tourmakeady Hall 7 - 8.30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Dalton Inn, Claremorris, 2 - 3.30 p.m.; Knock House Hotel 7 - 8.30 p.m.
Thursday, April 10: Bridge Street, Castlebar, (upstairs) 2 - 3.30 p.m.; the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh, 7 - 8.30 p.m.
Luke Murray, manager with Fáilte Ireland, commented: “These six community meetings are a crucial step in the consultative process, alongside desk research, site visits, online surveys and one-to-one meetings with key industry and agency partners such as Mayo County Council, Údaras na Gaeltachta and South West Mayo Development Company.
“A successful plan for developing the area can only be achieved through collaboration so all stakeholders in tourism (businesses, communities, agencies, representative groups) are invited to attend and share their views on what the future vision and tourism development blueprint for inland Mayo should be.”
People interested in attending can register in advance by emailing Jackie.Burns@failteireland.ie.
A Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) provides a shared vision and clear direction towards strengthening and growing an area’s market share of tourism revenues, enhancing the overall visitor appeal through the provision of targeted investment and support.
Mayo is already benefiting significantly from the Clew Bay DEDP, which is now in its fourth year of implementation, and a new North Mayo DEDP is set to be launched in Q4 2025.
The Inland Mayo Region is already rich in natural heritage, cultural diversity and compelling visitor experiences. Some of the key tourism product in the area includes: Knock Shrine, Ireland West Airport, Ballintubber Abbey, Tourmakeady Gaeltacht, Lough Mask, Mayo Velorail, Ashford Castle, National Museum of Ireland Country Life, Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark, Lough Carra and Moore Hall.
The Inland Mayo Region DEDP will help build on these strengths and position the area as a great place to visit both for domestic and international visitors alike.