Taoiseach Simon Harris T.D. joins with John McGrillen, CEO of Tourism Northern Ireland, Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland and Alice Mansergh, CEO of Tourism Ireland, along with Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Cllr. Lilian Seenoi Barr, to mark the positive progress of the Shared Island Wild Atlantic Way/Causeway Coastal Route Tourism Brand Collaboration Project.
Taoiseach Simon Harris T.D. today joined with John McGrillen, CEO of Tourism Northern Ireland, Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland and Alice Mansergh, CEO of Tourism Ireland to welcome progress with the implementation of the Shared Island Wild Atlantic Way/Causeway Coastal Route Tourism Brand Collaboration Project.
The Government of Ireland allocated €7.6m from the Shared Island Fund for this cross-border tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative which is delivered on a cooperative basis by Tourism Northern Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in consultation with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Ireland) and the Department for Economy (Northern Ireland).
The Shared Island Wild Atlantic Way/Causeway Coastal Route Tourism Brand Collaboration Project is creating synergies between these two iconic touring routes and bringing benefits to the North West and Northern coast regions by supporting new opportunities that create lasting tourism impact and economic benefit.
As part of this collaboration, Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin T.D. and Minister for the Economy of Northern Ireland, Conor Murphy MLA, in July announced a new funding scheme – the Coast to Coast capital investment fund – jointly administered by the three tourism agencies and worth €3m/£2.5m to enhance interpretation at existing operating visitor attractions and experiences along the north of the Wild Atlantic Way and along the Causeway Coastal Route. There has been a very strong response to the expression of interest phase in August and the call applications will open in the coming weeks, with detail published on the websites of the 3 Tourism Agencies.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said:
“I am delighted to join with the CEOs of the three Tourism Agencies on the island this morning to highlight their positive collaboration, supported through our Shared Island Fund, to link the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route brands.
This will undoubtedly create more opportunities for tourists from both home and abroad to experience all that Derry and the amazing North West and Northern coast regions have to offer, and I look forward to seeing the outputs of this impactful project”
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland, said:
“The Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project will enhance and link the visitor experience across these two iconic routes, the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way, helping to extend the economic benefits of tourism to local communities throughout these areas.
“It was a pleasure to meet with Taoiseach Simon Harris today to discuss the progress of this important initiative, and I look forward to continued collaboration with our partners in Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Together, we are committed to ensuring that this project delivers long-lasting benefits for visitors and residents alike, while protecting and celebrating the natural beauty that the island of Ireland is renowned for.”
Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said:
“I was delighted to meet Taoiseach Simon Harris today and discuss the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project.
“At Tourism Ireland, we market the island of Ireland overseas, sustainably increasing the value of inbound tourism for economies and communities island-wide. Making it easier to navigate from the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route to the northern section of the Wild Atlantic Way – and vice versa – is a real win.
“We will be communicating to overseas visitors to inspire them to do more and see more, bringing greater economic benefit to these parts of the island.”
John McGrillen, Chief Executive of Tourism NI, said:
“Tourism is one of Northern Ireland’s most important economies and the Shared Ireland Tourism Brand Collaboration Project will further maximise our rich tourism offering in the international marketplace.
“By enhancing the experiences enjoyed by both domestic and overseas visitors along the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way and raising the profile of these two magnificent touring routes, our collective goals of extending visitor stays and increasing levels of spend can be achieved.
“It was very beneficial to meet with the Taoiseach today to discuss the Shared Ireland Tourism Brand Collaboration Project and update him on its implementation. I look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues in Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to deliver these exciting plans.”
NOTES TO EDITOR:
Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme:
The Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme, part of the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project, aims to encourage visitors to explore both tourist routes by improving the storytelling and immersive experience capabilities on offer in existing visitor attractions and experiences. The Scheme will be open for applications from Donegal, Sligo and parts of Leitrim on the Wild Atlantic Way, and the local authority areas of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council along the Causeway Coastal Route.
The Scheme is the first initiative to be launched under the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project, and details on further support will be released in the coming months. It aims to create greater links between both iconic coastal routes to ensure visitors are motivated to stay longer and bring greater economic benefit to the region.
The maximum investment grant value available is €300,000 in Ireland, or £250,000 in Northern Ireland for any one project under this scheme. The minimum investment grant value is €50,000 in Ireland and £40,000 for Northern Ireland. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland will assess Expression of Interest Forms to determine the applicant’s and the proposed project’s eligibility in accordance with the Scheme’s qualifying criteria.
Further information and detail of how to apply visit:
For Ireland: https://www.
For Northern Ireland: http://www.tourismni.
