National Tourism Conference: Developing & Promoting Destinations – Empowering Communities

1. National Tourism Conference Developing & Promoting Destinations – Empowering Communities Head of Tourism Unit, Donegal County Council Barney Mc Laughlin 6th September 2017

2. Location & Context County Donegal is border County and is bounded on the southwest, west and north by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by Counties Tyrone, Derry, Fermanagh and Leitrim Donegal shares 93% of its entire land boundary with Northern Ireland Donegal has significant connectivity by air, through its own Donegal Regional Airport, and also through Knock International Airport, City of Derry Airport, Belfast International Airport, and Belfast City Airport

3. Offering Donegal County Council is committed to the continuous development of a diverse, exciting and high quality tourism product and offering. The tourism industry supports in excess of 29,000 jobs in the NW region, currently attracting a near 300,000 overseas visitors annually. In addition to this approximately 330,000 domestic visitors come to Donegal to enjoy our Blue Flag beaches, experience the cultural and heritage attractions all round the County, and to stay in our world-class accommodation.

4. Tourism Sectoral Forum Meetings continue since 2012 Meetings are well attended and the number of Members attending has significantly increased over the past 2 years Agenda, Minutes, venue booking, correspondence with Members, arranging speakers for product presentation for each meeting Meeting locations are agreed on a rotating basis – raising product awareness among the trade

5. Donegal Tourism - Structure This structure will continue to be a key pillar in the future development of Tourism in the County and will be the primary point of collaborative engagement between the Council’s Tourism Unit and the wider Tourism Sector

6. Wild Atlantic Way Inishowen HeadMagilligan Point ViewKinnagoe BayCuldaff BeachPollan BayGap of MamoreDunree HeadLisfannon BeachInch IslandManorcunningham ViewBallymastocker StrandBallyhiernan BayIsland Roy ViewRossguill PeninsulaDoe Castle ViewMarblehillHorn HeadMin Larach Harbour Inishbofin IslandTory Island Cnoc Fola Gola IslandBunbeg HarbourCarrickfinn BeachBurtonport HarbourArranmore IslandInishfree IslandNarin and Portnoo StrandGlengesh PassMalinbegMuckros HeadFintragh BayMountcharles PierMurvagh BeachRossnowlagh BeachTullan Strand • The longest coastline in Ireland - 1,134km (17.1% of the total national coastline) • 3 Signature Points: Malin Head | Fanad Head | Sliabh Liag • 37 Discovery Points

7. Malin Head Malin Head developments are being carried out in a phased approach with Phase 1 including the development of a viewing platform. Phase 2 will include the construction of a toilet block, car parking, lay-bys and the production of a Master Plan for the overall development of Malin Head As a film location for Star Wars and an area of outstanding natural beauty, Malin Head must be prepared to deal with increasing visitor numbers in the coming years. No. of Visitors: 154,925

8. Fanad Head Fanad Lighthouse celebrated its 200th Anniversary on March 17th Second most northerly lighthouse in Ireland 3 unique self-catering units are open to the public fanadlighthouse.com

9. Sliabh Liag is a major flagship tourism project for Donegal with investment coming from a number of sources including Donegal County Council, Fáilte Ireland and EU INTERREG IVA funding Capital works at Sliabh Liag have included the development of visitor amenities and access improvements including the mountain path Donegal County Council in association with Donegal Tourism CLG has developed a website and social media presence for Sliabh Liag, which will be handed over to the community company that is to manage the Sliabh Liag site going forward No. of Visitors: 185,760 Sliabh Liag

10. Donegal Tourism Map

11. Interregional Marketing Collaboration Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Galway, Ireland West Airport Knock Fáilte Ireland & Tourism Ireland – promotion of the North West Region to the UK, US and Mainland Europe markets

12. Working with Mayo & Sligo Councils Development of cycling routes leading to WAW MalinWaters Project – Scotland, Northern Ireland, NW of Ireland incl. Donegal & Sligo

13. Greenways – Cross-Border Cooperation North West Greenway project: €15 million INTERREG V funding to develop 46.5 km of cross-border greenway between the Strabane and Lifford areas and the Derry–Muff and Derry-Buncrana areas - this is a joint project between Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council Letterkenny to Burtonport Old Railway Line Phase 1 Greenway: Following feasibility study completion the next steps will be to progress planning and design works and establish the required permissions to enable a funding application for first phase works Other significant route developments that are in planning phase include Ballybofey to Donegal Town, Border to Carrigans Village, Porthall to Strabane and Fintown to Glenties

14. Importance of Tourism Services Aire De Service Units Lough Foyle & Lough Swilly Ferry Services Donegal Islands Ferry Services

15. Promotion & Marketing Donegal Tourism is dedicated to promoting and marketing County Donegal’s tourism product and reaching our target markets locally, nationally and internationally One of the tourism products - the Irish Open Golf Championships hosted in Ballyliffin GC in 2018 Every year Donegal Tourism develops and implements an extensive online and offline marketing and promotional campaign on behalf of the entire county

16. Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way Video

17. Thank YouBarney Mc LaughlinHead of Tourism Unit, Donegal County Councilbarney.mclaughlin@donegalcoco.ie