Product Development Activities Fiona Monaghan Dedicated Product Development Team

Attractions Activities Festivals Mary Stack Fiona Ciara Sugrue Monaghan The Ambition

Ireland to be recognized internationally as a year round, world class activity destination by 2028.

3 Vision Summary – Brand Architecture Activities - Innovation Screener Research

Key Findings (November 2018)

• Activities offer a strong supporting role to holidays in Ireland

• Activities are not a primary reason to travel (only a handful of individual experiences are)

• They are an important part of the experience and provide a range of things to do when in destination Consideration index vs. main reason to visit

Activities - Innovation Screener Research (November 2018) Top Performers Activities - Innovation Screener Research (November 2018)

• Boat Trips, with an opportunity to view dramatic scenery or encountering exceptional wildlife are the only activities that act as a core motivator for travel

• Experiences in nature and those that involve boat trips and walking are top performing of all activities and offer mass market appeal

• Iconic Coastal Walks stand out as having particular potential Drivers of Appeal

Activities - Innovation Screener Research (November 2018)

• The top performing activity experiences have Ireland’s dramatic landscapes playing a central role. The landscape is the attraction, the activity is a means to sightsee

• Activity for the mass market is not overly physical - it needs to be for all ages and abilities

• Experiences on or near water test strongly and are much more about getting on the water, than in it (via boats rather than water sports) Drivers of Appeal

Activities - Innovation Screener Research (November 2018)

• Walking is playing an increasingly important role for all markets

• Adrenaline and water sports are for the select few

• More rounded experiences test well • Activities that stretch beyond the initial activity and link the tourist to local villages, food and music stand out Market Nuance

Activities - Innovation Screener Research (November 2018) Priority Activity Areas

Walking & Hiking

Cycling – Road, Mountain Biking & Greenways

Water Based Activities

Adventure Activities

Angling

Golf Strategy for Investment Launched June 2016

Total €300m 2016 – 2028 €125m Committed to 2022 Mechanisms for Delivery Large Grants

Strategic Partnerships

Small Grants Fáilte Ireland Capital Investment Leveraging other sources of funding for the benefit of Tourism Strategic Partnerships Fáilte Ireland Capital Investment

Projects in Dublin – Opening Dates 2018 Currently in Development Stage • VAULTS.LIVE • Little Museum of Dublin • Dublin Mountains Project 2019 • Masterplan for Dock MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland • Dublin Canal Greenway – Feasibility • Phoenix Park Masterplan 2020 • Record Tower – Dublin Castle • Casino at Marino Dublin Mountains Project

- Development of a visitor gateway & orientation hub in the Dublin Mountains

- Including visitor centre, enhanced trails and access solutions Dublin Mountains Project Dublin Canal Greenway - Feasibility

Study of tourism potential for: - 40 km Loop linking the Grand Canal through Lucan to the to return to Dublin - 25 km Loop linking the Docklands to the Phoenix Park Dublin Canal Greenway - Feasibility Phoenix Park Masterplan

- New brand strategy - Visitor management and interpretive plans for the Magazine Fort - Plans and concepts for a visitor hub for the park - Review of access and circulation

Projects in Wild Atlantic Way – Opening Dates

2018 2020 • Fanad Head, Fanad Peninsula, Donegal • Blasket Centre, Peninsula, Kerry – Phase 2 • Malin Head, Donegal Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Galway • Sliabh Liag, Donegal • • Céide Fields, Mayo • Blasket Islands, , Kerry Carrowmore, Sligo • Killarney House, Kerry • • National Surfing Centre of Excellence • Tourism Interpretation Masterplan for National Parks Strandhill, Sligo • Connemara National Park, Galway

2019 • Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Mayo • Sligo Pontoon • Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Galway Projects in Wild Atlantic Way

Currently in Development Stage

• Galway’s Cultural Tourism District, Galway City

• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Clare

• Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park, Limerick

• Sligo Cultural Plaza with Lady Ann Walk

• Bray Head, Valentia Island, Kerry

• Keem Bay, Achill Island, Mayo

• Cliffs of Moher, Clare

• Dursey Island Cable Car, Cork Fanad Head, Fanad Peninsula, Co Donegal Opened Q1 2018 1 - New visitor orientation centre with interpretation for Fanad Peninsula - Development of a new car park to accommodate a combination of car and coach parking spaces

2 - Masterplan in Development Malin Head, Co Donegal

New facilities block opened Q2 2018

Development of a masterplan to improve visitor management to and from the site & the overall visitor experience in the wider locality Sliabh Liag, Co Donegal

Opened Summer 2018

- Access Improvements - Trail Construction - Visitor Management Facilities Sliabh Liag, Co Donegal Blasket Islands, Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry – Phase 1

Opened June 2018

Restoration of two cottages on the island

- Repairs to Tomás Ó Criomhthain cottage renowned island writer - Provide interpretation of the island - Focal point for visitors and OPW staff Killarney House, Killarney, Co Kerry

Opened July 2018 - Development of Killarney House as a visitor and interpretation centre for bio diversity of Killarney National Park

Grant Amount - €5,229,924 Total Project Costs - €7,089,204 Sligo Pontoon, Co Sligo

Opening Q1 2019

- Construction of a 27m pontoon in Riverside, Sligo - Support access to and use of Lough Gill for water based activities & boat trips - Direct walk from Sligo Town to the Pontoon

Grant Amount - €201,000 Total Project Costs - €271,000 National Surfing Centre of Excellence Strandhill, Co Sligo

Opening Q2 2020

- Development of the first national centre of excellence for surfing in Ireland - Showcase the history of Irish surfing - Exemplar for future developments

Grant Amount - €1,042,171 Total Project Costs - €1,472,923 Tourism Interpretation Masterplan for National Parks

Launched 2018 - 5 to 10 year masterplan identifying visitor experiences & investments to build on strength of Ireland’s National Parks and develop new visitor experiences - Based on international best practice Connemara National Park, Co Galway

Opening Summer 2020

- New infrastructure developments at Mweelin to include car park, visitor facilities, natural play area - Development of a new Farm Trail (1.8km) - Development of new Lime Kiln Trail (9km) - Increase accessibility of trails and access to the uplands

Grant Amount - €1.9 million Connemara National Park, Co Galway Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo

Opening Summer 2020 - Extension and upgrade of the through Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park to deliver an entirely off road trail of international scale and regional significance. - 56km fully off road Grade 3 walking & cycle trail linking Newport on the shores of Clew Bay () and Ballycastle in North Mayo

Grant Amount - €2.1 million Courtesy of Fionnan Nestor Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo

Courtesy of Fionnan Nestor Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park, Co Limerick

- Development of Trail Head Visitor Centre to improve the visitor experience - Upgrades to support national and international mountain biking events of scale

Development Grant Dursey Island Cable Car, Beara Peninsula, Co Cork

- Construction of a two car aerial tramway to Dursey Island to double the carrying capacity of the current cable car - Visitor Interpretation Centre on the mainland to act as a hub and interpretation centre - Visitors facilities and information building on the Island

Development Grant Bray Head, Valentia Island, Co Kerry

- Improvements to the signal tower and creation of a new lookout point - Creation of an external viewing platform - Path and access improvements around the site - Provision of a universal access viewing point at ground level incorporating a Ha Ha (sunken path) to open up views of Skellig Islands & provision of a viewing telescope

Technical Assistance Grant Keem Bay, Achill Island, Co Mayo

- Technical assistance to develop a compelling visitor experience at Keem Bay Signature Discovery Point. - Four key elements - (i) Visitor Arrival Centre - (ii) Visitor Service Path to guide visitors throughout the site and along the old coastguard path to Moytoge Head - (iii) Loop Walk connecting heritage points on the site including Captain Boycotts House, the old whaling station and abandoned village - (iv) Observation Sky Station a new visitor experience at the site of the WW1 look out station on Moytoge Head. Technical Assistance Grant Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare

- Development of a masterplan for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience • Including an integrated transport strategy for this hinterland • Review and upgrade of Visitor Centre experience • Review of Clare Coastal Walk in proximity to managed site

Masterplan Grant

Projects in Ireland’s Ancient East– Opening Dates 2019 2021 – 2025 • Carlingford Castle, Louth • Avondale Forest Park, Wicklow • Johnstown Castle, Wexford • Butler Gallery, Kilkenny Currently in Development • Ormond Castle, Tipperary • Boyne Valley Masterplan • Land of Myth, Meath • The Story of Drogheda, Tholsel, Phase 2, Louth • Newgrange, Meath • Irish Racehorse Experience, The National Stud, • Brú na Bóinne, Meath Kildare • Knowth, Meath • Town Hall Hub – Tholsel, Kilkenny • Walsh Whiskey, Carlow 2020 • Heartbreak Pier, Cork • Rock of Cashel, Tipperary • , Wicklow • Newgrange, Meath • Land of Myth, Meath • Butler Gallery, Kilkenny Avondale Forest Park, Wicklow

Opening 2021 - Two Iconic Experiences 1. Tree Top Walk 2. Living History Experience in Avondale House

Grant Amount - €6,124,000 Avondale Forest Park Avondale Forest Park Avondale Forest Park Avondale Forest Park

Projects in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

Currently in Development

• Strokestown Park & National Famine Museum, Roscommon

• National Broadcasting Museum & Communications Futurelab Athlone, Westmeath

• Granard Motte, Granard, Longford

• Shannon Navigation – Masterplan

• Beara Breffni Way – Masterplan Shannon Navigation - Masterplan

To develop a Tourism Masterplan for the Shannon Navigation to identify themes and experiences with the best potential to create internationally motivating visitor experiences.

Technical Assistance Grant Beara Breffni Way - Masterplan

To develop a Tourism Masterplan for the Beara Breifne Way long distance walking and cycling trail To inform and guide future capital investments & improvements in visitor services and facilities with the over arching objective of delivering an internationally motivating and compelling visitor experience. Activities Trail Development – Future Focus Trail Development as Tourism Infrastructure

Hierarchy of Trails

National Trails (Iconic, motivating & multi day experiences) e.g. Coast to Coast Greenway, Eurovelo 1

Regional Trails & Clusters (0.5-1 day experiences) e.g. Great Western Greenway, Greenway,

Local Trails (2- 4 hour leisure trails / half day experiences) e.g. Cycle Trails in National Parks & Forest Parks, Greenways ≤ 20km

57 Greenways as Tourism Infrastructure

Strategy for the Future Development of National & Regional Greenways in Ireland

€53 million 2019 - 2021

National Greenways > 100km

Regional Greenways > 20km (minimum) but ideally 40km New Greenways Strategy

Objective

To assist in the strategic development of Greenways in appropriate locations constructed to an appropriate standard in order to deliver a quality experience for all Greenways users.

It also aims to increase the number and geographical spread of Greenways of scale and quality around the country over the next 10 years with a consequent significant increase in the number of people using Greenways as a visitor experience and as a recreational amenity. Greenway Development – Lessons Learned

The end user / visitor MUST always come first…

• Scenic

• Sustainable

• Lots of Things to Do & See

• Segregated / Substantially Segregated

• Strategic Blueway Development Pathway National Looped Walks Review

• 220 inspected as part of review 232 Walks Nationally

• 158 passed from a safety & technical

• 182 quality visitor experience

Next Steps

• Establish a working group to identify walks with best tourism potential & invest in upgrade as appropriate Mountain Biking – Trail Development Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Path

• Pilot Study to link the and long distance walking routes along the coast

• Pilot study to be complete by end October

• Findings to inform a full scale feasibility for the Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Trail Growing Adventure Sector 2014-2018 Growing Adventure Sector 2019 Working with IAAT Working with IAAT

• Support membership recruitment of the association

• Data collection and quarterly reporting

• A platform to engage with the sector effectively & efficiently

• Design and deliver a suite of appropriate business supports

• Building Sales Capability, Market Diversification, Business Performance and Competitiveness and Get Brexit Ready

• Creating Saleable Experiences for the domestic & international markets.

• Support international business development platforms and initiatives Thank YouMain Video