THE GREENWAY FORWARD

Opportunities for Tourism

Padraig Philbin Senior Executive Engineer Enterprise & Investment Unit Mayo County Council

[email protected] THE GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY ~ Strength in Community The Greenway Overview

• The Greenway and its fit with Mayo’s Tourist Attractions…. • Where we are now... Building product, developing experiences..

• Case Studies…

• New Opportunities.. • What we learnt along the way…. THE GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY ~ Strength in Community The Greenway Overview

• The Greenway and its fit with Mayo’s Tourist Attractions…. • Where we are now... Building product, developing experiences..

• Case Studies…

• New Opportunities.. • What we learnt along the way…. West of Ireland – historically exemplified the quintessential appeals of Ireland • Railways in the 19th century opened up these remote areas to visitors

Galway - Clifden Westport - Achill

Connemara and Achill became very popular

Mayo’s traditional Visitor Attractions:

Achill Knock Shrine S2S - Gael force Adventure Races Adventure Tourism

Adventure Activity Events currently attracts up to 16,000 participants annually

Adventure Activity Events currently attracts up to 30,000 participants annually

Mayo A National Outdoor Adventure Destination

Adventure Centres & Challenges

‘GET OUT THERE’ Adventure Festival

Achill Kite Surfing World Championship

13 Blue Flag Beaches

Wild Nephin Wilderness Area

Ballycroy National Park

130 National Approved Walks

60km of Greenway incl. Great Western Greenway Overseas Adventure Tourism in Ireland

Economic Worth €1.2bn in 2011 High Yield - Spend 45% higher than the average overseas visitor Opportunity Cross over between activities Greatest opportunities for next generation of tourists

Key Features

• 42km Walking & Cycling Facility

• National Demonstration Model - NCN

• European Destination of Excellence

• Smarter Travel corridor

• PARTNERSHIP with landowners, community & business

• Tremendously popular rural greenway – 208,000 users in 2013

• Enabling platform for enterprise, innovation and regeneration

Achill

Newport

Westport NEWPORTMULRANNYWESTPORTACHILL

Achill

Westport Official Openings 2010 and 2011 Phases 1 and 2 Greenway appeals… Users on Great Western Greenway

160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 PEDESTRIANS 60,000 CYCLISTS 40,000 20,000 0 2010 2011 2012 2013

208,000 people travelled on the Greenway in 2013 (Mulranny counter). 2013 User Profile (based on survey of 800 users)

• All Age categories (38% in 31-49 age bracket) • Predominantly Cyclists (78%) • Origin: (Ireland 75.5%, Overseas 24.5% (UK 9.5%) • Ireland - Mayo (21%), Dublin (29%) • Very popular with families (60%) • 54% hired bike • Average daily spend €62/person/day

Changes Observed

• Number of Users Growing each year 145,000 (2011) – 208,000 (2013)

• More International Visitors 16% (2012) 24.5% (2013)

• People cycling longer journeys

• Growth in use of on road cycle routes

THE GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY ~ Strength in Community The Greenway Overview

• The Greenway and its fit with Mayo’s Tourist Attractions…. • Where we are now... Building product, developing experiences..

• Case Studies…

• New Opportunities.. • What we learnt along the way…. New Businesses

Bike Hire, Cycling and Walking Guided Tours, Hospitality services – food and drink, local shops, Accommodation providers, Taxi Services etc,

Economic Benefit: €7.2 million to local ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GREENWAY economy (€2.8m - overseas visitors) (Fitzpatrick Associates 2011) Employment: 38 New Jobs & supporting 56 existing jobs.

Cross Selling Packages - Unified business approach

Typical Packages of accommodation combined with bike hire, packed lunch, transport pick up 1996 to 2006 NÍ NEART GO CUR LE CHÉILE THERE IS NO STRENGTH WITHOUT UNITY

Leadership from different perspectives

Benwee1996. Greenway Landowners . Westport Tidy Towns . Newport Tidy Towns . Community Coops . RSS, FAS, TUS . Greenway Hotels . Failte Ireland . DTTAS . NPWS . Mayo County Council

Greenway Skate Park Greenway Fitness Gym

EDIBLE LANDSCAPE PROJECT Greenway Management

Ma

GREEN PATROL

• RSS and TUS Scheme Operatives • Greenway Maintenance & Management • Customer Care • First Aid Responders Festivals and Activity Challenges COMMUNITY RECOGNITION

Mulranny Small Town Tourism Award 2013

Meitheal Award 2012 – Greenway Landowners Great Western Greenway - 2013 1st prize at the European Greenways Association - Portugal

Achill 3 favourite Journeys on a bike - 2013

Westport THE GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY ~ Strength in Community The Greenway Overview

• The Greenway and its fit with Mayo’s Tourist Attractions….

• Where we are now... Building product, developing experiences.. • Case Studies…

• New Opportunities..

• What we’ve learnt along the way.. Bike Hire – Case Study (1)

Opened: 2010

Employment: 5 Full Time & 25 Part time Locations: Westport, Newport, Mulranny, Achill Services: Bike Hire (with or without pick up) Artisan Food Trail Wild Atlantic Challenges Greenway to Seaway Key Learning: Excellent Customer Service

Greenway to Seaway Experience

Mulranny Park Hotel – Case Study (2)

The starting point ….. Mulranny & the Great Western Greenway - 10 years ago..

• Limited activity in Mulranny tourism Mulranny RailwayCauseway • Derelict & Station underdeveloped tourism infrastructure (Old Railway Hotel) • Place to pass through • Dormant • Underutilised community resources • Lack of vision

The Mulranny Park Hotel opened it doors in 2005

Mulranny Park Hotel

•The listed building was sensitively restored retaining it original charm and character. •Cost of €18 million •The Hotel employs up to 100 people at peak season •It attracts 30,000 visitors per year to Mulranny

Mulranny Park Hotel – Re imagining the role of the hotel in partnership with the Greenway

• 4* Hotel • McKenna Guide 2014 - Top 100 Places to stay - Top 100 Places to Eat - Top 10 for walkers - Top 10 Restaurant Dishes

Creating Memorable Experiences with Community • Gourmet Greenway • Greenway Adventures • Mulranny Walking Experience / Wild Atlantic Walking

Product Development The Gourmet Greenway Food Trail 1996 to 2006 A Food Trail along the Greenway showcasingBenwee1996 the best of artisan foods.

Kellys of Newport

Carrowholly Cheese

Murriveagh Honey

Rua

Achill Island Turbot

Sean Kelly & his gold medal winning Black Pudding Product Development …..The GOURMET GREENWAY FOOD TRAIL

MULRANNY SALT MARSH

Why a Gourmet Greenway Food Trail ?... •People want the story behind the food on their plates. •See, smell & experience – real traceability •Meet the Local producers •Cooking Experience

1996 to 2006 Key Figures…

•New marketing initiatives which has contributed to 19% increase in occupancy and 15% increase in food in 2013 & delivering in 2014. • Gourmet Greenway contributed in excess of €1.5m + in publicity & increased tourism. •Walking Experience Economic value:- in access of 2,000 bed nights of new business

SUNDAY INDEPENDENT MAY20th 2012 THE GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY ~ Strength in Community The Greenway Overview

• The Greenway and its fit with Mayo’s Tourist Attractions…. • Where we are now... Building product, developing experiences..

• Case Studies…

• New Opportunities.. • What we learnt along the way…. Euro Velo 1 Cycle Route EXISTING CYCLE NETWORK IN MAYO PROPOSED CYCLE NETWORK

Proposed network of scale and continuity through idyllic landscapes, nice towns and linking Mayo’s visitor attractions.

New Markets: Germany, Holland etc Extension of the Greenway to Clifden / Galway and Belmullet/Sligo

Adventure Cycle Bridge GREEN PATROL ACTIVITY SERVICES CENTRES

Toilets and Shower Facilities, Customer Services, First Aid / Responders HQ for GreenPatrol Blueway – Pilot Project

A trail along the Galway/Mayo coastline that links water recreational activities.

THE GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY ~ Strength in Community The Greenway Overview

• The Greenway and its fit with Mayo’s Tourist Attractions…. • Where we are now... Building product, developing experiences..

• Case Studies…

• New Opportunities.. • What we learnt along the way…. 1996 to 2006

What we’ve learnt ….

• Greenway Investment can Go Raibh Maith Agaibh leverage community & private Benwee1996buy in. Create momentum – but needs direction & co-ordination • Work with the energy – others will follow. Huge strength in community. • Greenways can re energise an area – bringing back that sense/pride of place • Encourage to take the initiative / highlight the €€€€€ • Create experiences & packages • Collaboration, collaboration & more collaboration. • Success follows Success