A €3.5m programme of works with photo-friendly marker points and interpretation panels will improve visitor experiences along the route.
The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, today launched a new €3.5m phase of the Wild Atlantic Way with further development for the touring route’s 188 designated Discovery Points. With the intention of bringing each site to life and encouraging visitor engagement, photo-friendly marker points and interpretation panels - explaining the significance of each point - will be installed ahead of next year’s tourism season.
The Minister launched the programme today at the commencement of installation for the photo-marker and interpretative panel at Cnoc Fola (Bloody Foreland), Gweedore, County Donegal. Speaking at the event, Minister Ring said:
“The Wild Atlantic Way, already being hailed as a game-changer along the western seaboard, continues to evolve. Today marks another significant step in that evolution as we begin to bring to life the stories along the route and create opportunities for tourists to explore each Discovery Point.
“We don’t want people rushing along the route but instead we want them to fully engage with this part of Ireland. This investment in the Wild Atlantic Way’s Discovery Points is intended to encourage those who travel along the route to slow down, catch their bearings and explore all there is to offer nearby. In this way, we will attract more visitors and persuade them to stay longer.”
Fáilte Ireland has been working with Local Authorities along the Atlantic coast to complete this crucial upgrade of the Wild Atlantic Way’s designated Discovery Points. This work will involve the installation of Photo Points at all sites which are designed to literally ‘frame’ the photographs taken by visitors at beauty spots and scenic views along the route. The work will also involve the erection of sturdy weather-proof interpretation panels at each point to tell the relevant stories for each particular area and Fáilte Ireland has worked with a number of communities along the route to bring these stories to life. The interpretation panel will also include information advising visitors of other things to do and see in the area and will also include an orientation map of the immediate surrounding area.
Fáilte Ireland CEO, Shaun Quinn, emphasised:
“We really want to improve the visitor experience along the Wild Atlantic Way and give visitors opportunities to learn from, engage with and share what they encounter. The photo points, for example, are located at the most scenic spot of each Discovery Point and are intended to provide a sense of arrival at that place and encourage visitors to have their pictures taken with the spectacular scenery on hand in the background. We hope that this not only encourages them to engage with the view but also to share their images with friends and family online and via social media.”
The total investment in this phase of development for the discovery points is €3.5m and it is expected that all work will be completed by the Local Authorities in time for the 2016 tourism season. This investment for the Wild Atlantic Way also includes a remedial works programme which will entail the repair of surfaces, boundary walls and fencing and the general tidying up and presentation of these sites.
During the original development of the Wild Atlantic Way route, a number of existing viewing points and lay-bys were identified and established as Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points. Fáilte Ireland worked with the relevant Local Authorities along the route to carry out remedial works for each of these points to ensure that the sites were presentable for this year’s (2015) tourist season. Today’s announcement marks the next stage of development of these sites and will further enhance their appeal to visitors.
Finally, it should be noted that environmental issues have been taken into account when planning any developments along the Wild Atlantic Way and great care has been taken to ensure that all works are carried out in an environmentally friendly manner that ensures that sensitive areas are fully protected.
Click HERE for general photos of Bloody Foreland. Clive Wasson, Donegal photographer will issue photos after the event today (Mobile: 086 2221024)
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Alex Connolly – Head of Communications
086 7966320/01 8847884
Notes for Editor
Fáilte Ireland
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 205,000 people and generates over €3.5billion in overseas revenue a year.
The Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way is a major tourism initiative for the western seaboard. It is in essence a long-distance coastal touring route from Donegal to West Cork (Kinsale) with a total length of up to 2,500km showcasing Ireland’s coastline and traditional culture and heritage. It has been developed by Fáilte Ireland as an “experience brand” to present the West Coast of Ireland as a tourism product of scale and singularity to gain cut through in a very cluttered international marketplace and simultaneously to give the tourism industry in the West of Ireland an overarching “umbrella” brand under which to mobilise and develop compelling visitor experiences.
Since 2012, Fáilte Ireland has worked collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders (including Local Authorities) to identify and develop the route of the Wild Atlantic Way in line with the brand proposition. During 2012 – 2013, extensive work took place to identify the best possible route in consultation with all relevant stakeholders before the new proposition was introduced to overseas buyers in 2013 and officially launched to visitors in 2014.
Significant capital funding was invested to develop the route in 2014, including €8 million capital made available in Budget 2014 to the project. Much of this was invested in route signage and in establishing the discovery points along the way.
The Route Signage phase of the project was completed in June 2014 including the signage of the mainland Discovery Points. In total 3,850 signs were erected at 950 junctions along the 2,500km stretch of the route. Now fully in place, the route signage allows visitors to follow and explore the route in depth. This year, the installation of the Photo Points and Interpretation Boards begins at each of the Discovery Points and Embarkation Points, including the islands, and will further enhance the effectiveness of the sites.
What exactly is the Wild Atlantic Way? You can learn more HERE.