Tourism and the Shannon A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE Éanna Rowe Waterways Ireland

Waterways ireland Mission: To provide recreational opportunities along the inland waterways that sustain people, communities, heritage and nature. Mission: The provision of sustainable and accessible inland waterway recreational environments that provide compelling reasons for people to visit, live, work and play. Vision:

BUSINESS OBJECTIVES Manage and maintain TO provide safe, open and accessible recreational space. Inspire more people to discover and enjoy recreational activities…… Focus developments on unlocking opportunities.. achieve recreational growth, and economic and social dev Continue to develop WI as the …custodian of the inland waterways

THE SHANNON Longest River 3 large Lakes & SOME LATERAL CANALS MYRIAD OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES WORLD CLASS BOATING INFRASTRUCTURE Numerous Public Sites RICH LANDSCAPES AND HERITAGE

The shannon 8,500 boats €80 million 83% cruise hire €55 million > 150 activity providers Pre-Christian, Christian and Napoleonic attractions Outdoor playground (Blueway, Baysports, Lough Key) Proven tourism offering

Potential Capacity Access Demand Doubled mooring space New destinations On shore services Access Improved air access Motorway network Demand Domestic & International Outdoor Recreation worth €1 billion

How to achieve potential? BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHING JOINT INITIATIVES COLABORATION AVOIDING DUPLICATION LEVERAGING RESOURCES

REGIONAL & LOCAL AUTHORITIES PARTNERSHIP State agencies TOURISM AUTHORITIES SPORTS COUNCIL REGIONAL & LOCAL AUTHORITIES

PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY SECTOR ACTIVITY PROVIDERS attractions ACCOMMODATION SECTOR

DELIVERY FORMULATION OF STRATEGIES AND PLANS COORDINATED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT JOINT MARKETING & PROMOTION ESTABLISHING NETWORKS

Delivery Strategy

Tourism & Recreation Greenway and Blueway State lands Design guidelines Water corridor studies National Product development Studies Lough Derg Development Roadmap SPIRIT LEVEL - Lough Ree islands & PEATLANDS Regional Destination development plans Carrick 20/20 Limerick 2040 Destination athlone County development plans Local

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT STUDIES WATERWAYS IRELAND FÁILTE IRELAND/NITB LOCAL AUTHORITIES LEADER COMPANIES PRODUCT & ACTIVITY PROVIDERS LOCAL COMMUNITIES OTHER AGENCIES (OPW, NPWS,BnaM, IFI)

STUDY METHODOLOGY Agree study area LITERATURE REVIEW PRODUCT AUDIT MAPPING ACTION PROGRAMMES

STUDY AIMS DEFINE FUTURE NEEDS ENSURE INTEGRATED PLAN NAVIGATIONAL RECREATIONAL TOURISM ENSURE INTEGRATED PLAN ENSURE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH STUDY AREA ARE MET

STUDY OBJECTIVES IDENTIFY & PROACTIVELY DEVELOP & DELIVER OVER TEN YEARS INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENT (HARD & SOFT) NAVIGATIONAL, RECREATIONAL & TOURISM PROJECTS BUILDING & STRENGTHENING EXISTING OFFERING CLUSTERING PRODUCTS

STUDY OUTCOMES Grow Tourism and Recreational Use Grow length of stay Grow Home Holiday and Overseas Provide Dividend to Local Economies Increase Economic Impact MULTIPLE WALKING, CYCLING, CANOEING, CRAFT & TOURING ROUTES LINKED TO HERITAGE, ACTIVITY HUBS, GATEWAYS AND ATTRACTIONS UNDERPINNED BY RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLANS COLLECTIVELY DELIVERED

ACTION PROGRAMMES PRE - CHRISTIAN HERITAGE TRAILS & CIRCUITS ACCESS ENJOYMENT SIGNAGE INFORMATION MARKETING FESTIVALS EVENTS COLLABORATION HUB DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENT STANDARDISATION COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Delivery Product development

ballyleague €270k In kind contributions 95k Fáilte Ireland 50k Roscommon Co Co 40k Inland Fisheries 50k Waterways Ireland 20k community In kind contributions grant applications to Fáilte Ireland & IFI, health and safety roles, site Investigation, Environmental assessments preparing and submitting the Part 8 Planning assessment and recommendation of a contractor for construction Tender and construction drawings supervision of construction

Ballyleague Project

killaloe €2 million euro investment Waterways Ireland Fáilte Ireland Clare County Council Local Community

KILLALOE

Lough Key Forest Park Joint project Coillte – Land access Roscommon County Council Lead by WI Fáilte Ireland Funding project outturn cost approximately €900K. Impact 40 Berths, Service Block and Floating Breakwater Viewing Platform Very Successful Project, Large Increase in activity accessible from land and boat.

Lough Key Forest Park

Lough Key Forest park

Clondara attractive rural village. one of the most imposing inland stone harbours in Ireland, Located where the Royal Canal meets the River Shannon. opportunity and necessity to develop and enhance the existing harbour and amenity provisions. The project was designed, funded and developed (€2m) Waterways Ireland Fáilte Ireland Longford County Council Local community.

Before

After

Delivery Promotion & Marketing

SIGNAL V. NOISE

Why partner? Hard to be heard Better cut through Greater bang for the buck Deliver together

SHANNON BLUEWAY

Trade/ Activity Sector Identify Partners Local Authorities State Agencies Communities Trade/ Activity Sector

Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford & cavan tourism Waterways ireland 4local authorities Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford & cavan tourism Business providers Trails office Canoeing ireland Tourism network Fáilte ireland Local communities

Brand development engagement promotion

Identity and Brand Icons Paddle Walk Cycle

engagement Elected members Public reps Media campaigns Public Activity providers Accommodation Sector Information evenings Come and try it sessions stakeholder

promotion Visitor information Pocket guides Banners T shirts posters materials

Domestic and Community engagement Public meeting

T-shirts

promotion Longer term Microsite for Blueways Ireland to be developed Website Social media Filming Tracks and trails nationwide Digital engagement Longer term Microsite for Blueways Ireland to be developed Will facilitate the promotion of Blueway associated businesses and conversations with users through blogging Leitrim Tourism to provide resource to update accommodation and activities offers National Trails Office to host trail info with link out to BluewaysIreland.org site

promotion Print adverts Radio promotions (newstalk, 98fm u105 ) competitions Familiarisation trips Win awards

Award Winning Won “Best Tourism Initiative” category of the LAMA Community & Council Awards 2015

Strong community ownership Success? 100,000 visitors 8 new businesses €4.5m spend Continued investment Strong community ownership

In summary BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHING JOINT INITIATIVES COLABORATION AVOIDING DUPLICATION LEVERAGING RESOURCES

CONTACT ÉANNA ROWE REGIONAL MANAGER WATERWAYS IRELAND eanna.rowe@waterwaysireland.org @eannarowe