Tourism in the West
Building Communities
Reversing its steep decline
Supporting Inclusiveness
A key objective of the Atlantic Way is to bring about the reversal of the steep decline in overseas tourism numbers to the region in the past 10 years. The wider West of Ireland region is seen as one of the true tourism products that visitors expect when visiting Ireland. It is time to develop a policy that annunciates this and places the proposition at the heart of all promotional, developmental and administrative activities along the region from Donegal to Cork.
There are social priorities throughout the Atlantic Way that need to be addressed. Here we focus on just two initiatives:
The following is required: Marketing: There is ample evidence to show that the current approach to marketing Ireland overseas is not working for the West of Ireland. The need is to establish product zones, clusters, hallmark events and major themes and to redefine the consumer proposition and the marketing of the West. Organisation: There are too many disparate representative groupings within the region’s tourism sector. In their place there is a need to create a new West of Ireland Regional Tourism Structure to envision, manage and invest in tourism product along the Western Seaboard. Targets: Specific and ambitious recovery targets must be set for tourism to the Region and the progress to be measured and reported upon. Intelligence: Ireland needs better and more timely tourism statistics on a national and regional basis. Direct access is critical to supporting year-round tourism and there should be a particular focus on developing and supporting air access into the West.
Focus on Food Sustainable Local Food Production Wonderful opportunities exist for the agri-food sector in Ireland. As populations rise consumers worldwide will increasingly seek out foods with credible, health, wellness and sustainability attributes.
The Atlantic Way supports the growth of sustainable food production. We wish to see a number of projects advance including the development of a regional food brand identity built around 24 “champion” products uniquely suited to the region’s ‘terroir’ in terms of productivity and yield as well as their long-term sustainability. Sample products range from apples and strawberries to artisan cheeses and Atlantic seaweed products.
Driving Limerick City Regeneration The social regeneration of Limerick City is a critically important project for both the city and the wider Region. The needs are to:
Releasing the potential of the West of Ireland
Develop a high level master plan for the City and its surrounds, focusing on a small number of clear drivers that can be used to re-energise the city’s socio economic structure, to transform it into a world-class city within 25 years. Regeneration: Encourage and support the work of the regeneration agencies. Inclusive: Ensure that economic development opens up opportunities for ALL and that the planned restructured local authority for the city and county are strong drivers of this agenda. City of Learning, City of Sport: Support Limerick City in its ambition to become ‘City of Learning, City of Sport’, building upon its reputation in both areas. Part of the ‘transformation’ agenda, this will support tourism, camaraderie, inclusiveness, innovation, talent, health and well-being. Implement a “Ten Village” Project The Atlantic Way supports the concept of a Ten Village Project where ten non-urban communities throughout the Atlantic Way are selected for specialised assistance in achieving plans for their economic, social and sustainable development over a five-year period.
The Atlantic Aid Project A New Global Humanitarian Partnership Provoked by the ever-greater need for an effective response to humanitarian emergencies, Atlantic Aid is an international partnership bringing together committed stakeholders from government, higher education, global freight logistics enterprises and leading private sector companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Atlantic Aid will help existing international aid agencies in the procurement, transportation and distribution of aid supplies. This will be made possible by combining the power of available infrastructure, the latest innovative technologies, and a professionally trained human capital base - that together will help save human life, alleviate suffering and rebuild stricken communities around the world. The initiative will require government endorsement and support to help move it to full implementation.
www.AtlanticWay.com
Atlantic Way is a voluntary organisation involving key influencers and organisations along Ireland’s western seaboard that have worked together for over 6 years to help the region progress economically and socially. Ensuring that ALL Ireland’s region’s perform and deliver relative to their potential is key to accelerating our nation’s growth. The West is currently underperforming relative to its potential. Atlantic Way seeks to rebalance growth and benefit the entire country. Our objective is to work to advance an agreed agenda with Government for co-ordinated and joined-up development and, by focusing on achievable projects of scale within an integrated strategy, creating a Super-Region of proven excellence and international significance.
Inside are some of the major projects that we need to advance with Government support
A new Marine & Energy-led Programme Ireland’s Atlantic Coast and territorial shelf offer enormous natural marine and energy opportunities - capable of reaping rewards of scale for the national economy over the next 30 years or more. This is what is needed to make that happen:
This ‘Real Map of Ireland’ illustrates the scale of our marine resource relative to the size of our island.
Designate the Atlantic Way as a Special Strategic Energy Zone for Europe Atlantic Way’s gift from nature - the potential to be the largest wind and wave energy producing region in the world - driving down Ireland’s fossil-based energy dependence - and exporting energy as a freely traded commodity directly into the European integrated power grid of the future. Envisioning the Shannon Estuary 2017
Support for Shannon Estuary n Support is required for the
Shannon Estuary Initiatives Spanning 100km from the Atlantic Ocean at Loop Head upriver to Limerick city - the estuary is another great national resource that offers huge potential to the Region and the Nation.
recommendations of the new Strategic Integrated Framework Plan being undertaken by the four local authorities as a key to unlocking that potential. n Due of the changed dynamics of world ocean freight patterns, shipping experts agree that the estuary is an ideal site for a European bulk transhipment terminal for deep-sea carriers that require cost efficient access into Northern European ports.
Prioritise the Research & Development for On-shore Sustainable Energy Onshore wind and bio-energy research and development offer significant business and employment potential for the West of Ireland and merit national support.
www.AtlanticWay.com
Developing Clusters & Centres of Excellence
Connecting to the World Opening up New Trading Opportunities
Atlantic Way advocates the concept of strategic clustering of industry and the creation of closely located supporting centres of R&D excellence. Galway has already shown what is possible. It has emerged as an international centre of excellence for manufacturing and research in the medical and biomedical sectors.
Air connectivity via key gateways in the Western Regions is critical to opening up trading opportunities. Shannon Airport is particularly important as a engine for growth and can help the wider region achieve its ambitions in terms of connectivity to major markets for passengers and freight and the growth of trade, tourism and investment.
But the wider region is not achieving anywhere near its potential. There is no clear vision or strategy, and no integrated approach to achieve specific outcomes. We believe that better results won’t be achieved by adopting outdated methodologies.
Key Areas of Focus
We need a changed approach: Drive to build new and stronger clusters in key future growth sectors including ICT, life sciences, bio-medical, logistics, aviation/aerospace, engineering, energy, green technologies, agrifoods and internationally traded services.
Route Development and marketing: With support, Shannon airport can increase the number of year-round routes into key markets and into hubs that connect to the world. It can also deliver more seasonal routes, including those that open up the opportunity for greater inbound tourism. The support required includes a more integrated approach to marketing and traffic-stimulating initiatives. Large Asset Base: Shannon has a unique and large asset base i.e. 2,000 acres of land, a 3,200 meters long runway and 24/7 x 365 access. It is all available to facilitate global projects of scale.
Integrated approach: Government must bring together the key higher education institutes, indigenous SME’s, multinational investment representative bodies and key agencies to shape a strategy including: ideas around locations; type and regional capacity for specific clustering initiatives; the supports required; gaps that may need to be addressed and a new integrated approach to marketing and working together. Balance: Ireland should have a target of delivering up to 50% of foreign direct investment into the wider Dublin and Cork Regions and at least 50% outside of these areas. SME’s: Acknowledging SMEs, particularly high-potential, export oriented companies, as “the future engines of growth”, must be followed by tangible and integrated responses by Government and Agencies. Alliances between the Higher Educational Institutes and Industry should be supported so that there is an interconnected research and development environment, where R&D collaboration flourishes – underpinning the socio-economic needs of the region.
www.AtlanticWay.com
Global Freight Logistics has been identified as a critical strategic ingredient for Airport growth in the years ahead. The planned new Lynxs CargoPort facility at Shannon is the first key step towards developing a world class cargo airport with exceptional freight facilities and services to attract and support export industries. A World Aviation Services Centre: The region already has a strong base of successful aviation companies centered around the Airport. Continued support from the airport will be needed to nurture this cluster and to grow exports for aviation related services.
Connecting the Region Infrastructure to create a Super Region We Need To Collaborate: Ensure that local governments throughout the region work together to facilitate the development of the key centres by providing the infrastructure to underpin key strategic projects and to connect the centres. Prioritise the completion of Atlantic corridor road network (M20, M18 & M17). Support MWASP, the new Mid-West Area Strategic Plan.
www.AtlanticWay.com