Ambitious plan for 1,000 jobs

Doubling spend to £100m. by 2025 and creating up to 1,000 new jobs in the sector are among the key objectives of a new seven year tourism plan launched by Derry & Strabane Council.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2018, 08:49 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 08:32 BST
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh, pictured with guest speaker at the DCSDC Tourism Strategy 2018-25 launch held in the Guildhall. From left, are Matthew Scott, Navada Group, John Kelpie, chief executive, DCSDC, Kate Taylor, Taylored Training, Dr. Peter Boland, Ulster University, Simon Nash, Hugo & Cat, Joan Crawford, Failte Ireland, John Farren, Ballyliffin Golf Club, Leanne Rice, Tourism NI, Edward Montgomery, The Honourable the Irish Society, Judith Webb, Tourism NI, and John McGrillen, chief executive, Tourism NI. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh, pictured with guest speaker at the DCSDC Tourism Strategy 2018-25 launch held in the Guildhall. From left, are Matthew Scott, Navada Group, John Kelpie, chief executive, DCSDC, Kate Taylor, Taylored Training, Dr. Peter Boland, Ulster University, Simon Nash, Hugo & Cat, Joan Crawford, Failte Ireland, John Farren, Ballyliffin Golf Club, Leanne Rice, Tourism NI, Edward Montgomery, The Honourable the Irish Society, Judith Webb, Tourism NI, and John McGrillen, chief executive, Tourism NI. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh, pictured with guest speaker at the DCSDC Tourism Strategy 2018-25 launch held in the Guildhall. From left, are Matthew Scott, Navada Group, John Kelpie, chief executive, DCSDC, Kate Taylor, Taylored Training, Dr. Peter Boland, Ulster University, Simon Nash, Hugo & Cat, Joan Crawford, Failte Ireland, John Farren, Ballyliffin Golf Club, Leanne Rice, Tourism NI, Edward Montgomery, The Honourable the Irish Society, Judith Webb, Tourism NI, and John McGrillen, chief executive, Tourism NI. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

The ambitious new strategy centres around the district’s stunning and historic location - a cultural centre set where the wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route.

Mayor Maolíosa McHugh says the tourism strategy is “dynamic and forward thinking”.

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“At its core is the drive to draw more overnight visitors who have the time to explore and enjoy the many attractions we already have to offer,” he said. “It also highlights the need to work collectively to improve visitor experience and turn our location into a real strength.

Representatives from the tourism sector gathered for the launch at the Guildhall on Thursday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)Representatives from the tourism sector gathered for the launch at the Guildhall on Thursday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
Representatives from the tourism sector gathered for the launch at the Guildhall on Thursday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

“I particularly welcome the commitment to developing the use of digital technology to improve visitor experience and the strong focus being placed on investment in marketing the city and district and wider region.”

A key element of the strategy is a focus on developing the rural offering and building on existing tourism assets such as the Walled City.

Stephen Gillespie, Director for Business and Culture with the Council, explained that the three core supporting themes for successful delivery of the strategy were History and Heritage, Creativity and Culture and Activity and Adventure.

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He commented: “We are very keen to use our historic and heritage assets to encourage tourists to explore our epic stories throughout the centuries.

“We are very keen to capitalise on our vibrant arts scene and build on our existing events calendar to develop our existing celebrations including Halloween and the Foyle Maritime Festival to establish the city and region as a cultural destination of choice on the island of Ireland.

“The strategy also recognises the importance of developing our natural assets, such as the Sperrins, to make them more accessible to visitors.”

Council says that at the heart of the strategy is the goal to create and support jobs which will be generated through increased visitor spend.

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Mr Gillespie says the successful delivery of this strategy is dependent on “strong leadership, collaborative working and supported by timely, accurate and insightful data that will “assist us to steer the future of tourism over the next eight years.”

Copies of the Tourism Strategy are available to download at www.derrystrabane.com/tourism

Related topics:Strabane CouncilDerryCouncilCulture