Eco Tourism Key To Sector Growth - Shannon Development

Business & Finance - Tourism

Friday, 04 November 2011 13:22

Written by Noel Cotter

“Shannon Development believes there is tremendous potential to generate additional visitor numbers, revenue and jobs in rural areas through the development of eco friendly tourism projects.”

This was the message delivered by Dr. Vincent Cunnane at the ICER Project International Conference organised by Shannon Development at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.

To accelerate the potential of eco tourism, Shannon Development is partnering with six other European regional development agencies –  from France, Hungary, Spain, Finland, Malta and Slovenia -  in a project aimed at identifying best practice and policies for the development of eco friendly tourism businesses in rural areas. The EU funded project is called ICER (Innovative Concept of Eco-Accommodation Approach in Rural Regions) and is due for completion in 2012.

As part of the project, Shannon Development has selected the Burren area in North Clare as an international example of best practice for eco tourism development. The Burren recently secured UNESCO Geopark Status which gives the area a unique profile on an international platform and will assist in the marketing of the area as an eco tourism destination.

Highlighting the importance of the ICER Project for the Shannon Region, Dr. Vincent Cunnane, CEO of Shannon Development said: “Tourism is often the only means of generating economic activity in rural areas.  A key objective of the ICER Project is the creation of the right policies, support programmes and grant schemes that will encourage eco friendly tourism investment.

“The Irish tourism market is very dependent on the environmental quality of our product and market research indicates that visitors are increasingly looking for a more natural tourism product. As the Regional Tourism Authority for the Shannon Region, Shannon Development is ideally positioned to encourage investment in sustainable eco friendly tourism related businesses,” he said.

Defined by the International Eco Tourism Society (TIES) as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people”, the eco tourism market has been growing since the 1990’s at a rate of 30% annually. Eco Tourism is one of the fastest growing niche tourism sectors in Europe.

Speaking about the project, ICER Project Manager, Mr. Thomas Ducloutrier, Head of Territorial Cooperation, Regional Committee for Tourism Development, Auvergne, France said: The ICER Project is providing us with a platform to identify and share our experience of eco tourism policies and practices in participating regions, explore how these policies and practices can be improved and adapted to regional specific needs, eventually leading to the publication of a Public Policy Recommendation Handbook in 2012.”

“The Public Policy Recommendation Handbook will be a reference guide used throughout Europe, by public policy makers and other relevant stakeholders, in the development of eco tourism investment in rural areas”, he added.

Eco tourism unites conservation, communities and tourism and is growing in popularity as a method for sustainable tourism development. Shannon Development is working closely on the project with Burren Connect – a joint initiative involving Clare County Council, Shannon Development, the Geological Survey of Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Services, National Monuments Services, Failte Ireland, BurrenBeo Trust and the Burren Connect Advisory Committee – as well as local tourism related businesses in the area.

Discussing the benefits of supporting local tourism operators and landowners, Flan Quilligan, Tourism Product Development Manager, Shannon Development said: “The ‘Walks Scheme’, part of the Shannon Region Trails Programme, is a prime example of a public-funded scheme which supports a maintenance programme on privately owned lands and resulted in the successful development of a range of walking trails throughout the Shannon Region.”

“Over the past number of years in excess of €4m has been invested under the Shannon Region Trails Programme in developing walking and cycling infrastructural projects including looped walks, long distance waymarked ways, new cycling hubs and mountain biking. These projects are providing significant benefits to rural economies in various parts of the Shannon Region. For example ,  in excess of 40,000 visitors per annum are now using the Ballyhoura Mountain Biking Trails in Co Limerick,” Mr. Quilligan said.

Ireland needs to capitalise on its quality rural tourism according to Mary Mulvey of Greenbox and Director of Ecotourism Ireland. Speaking at the Conference, Ms Mulvey presented a case study on Policies and Practice of Green/Ecotourism in Ireland. In her presentation Ms. Mulvey highlighted the need for a Capital Grants Programme to assist eco tourism operators to expand or encourage new entrants to the industry, the importance of building up an Ecotourism Network, developing certification and standards, and targeting available resources at niche tourism markets.

Throughout its duration, ICER intends to raise the awareness of the need for innovative public policies for rural tourism among the relevant decision-makers. As well as the publication of a Public Policy Recommendation Handbook, ICER will lead to international networking opportunities, resulting in sustainable eco friendly tourism investment and long term economic benefits for rural regions throughout Europe.