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FÁILTE IRELAND IS considering a ”world-class” Halloween festival in a bid to attract more overseas visitors to Ireland’s Ancient East – which is overly reliant on lower-spending domestic tourists.
The state agency responsible for tourism development has issued a tender for firms to set out how the event could become “a motivating reason” for overseas tourists to travel to the country’s less-visited parts.
The ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ brand was rolled out in 2015 in a bid to increase the spread of tourism spend to eastern and southern counties that have been overlooked by international travellers.
It followed the successful introduction of the Wild Atlantic Way trail that runs along the country’s west coast.
According to Fáilte Ireland’s tender, 44% of overseas tourists visit the counties that fall under the Ancient East brand, but the region only receives about 22% of total tourism expenditure.
“When Cork city is stripped out, the region receives only 23% of overseas visitors and 11% of spend,” the document said.
It said the east is also “heavily reliant” on less lucrative domestic tourists, who typically spend €230 each on activities, accommodation and food – under half of what the average overseas visitor would spend.
When asked what Fáilte Ireland was doing to encourage more overseas tourists to visit Ireland’s Ancient East, a spokesman told Fora that it is working on “visitor experience development plans”.
“These are shared plans developed in conjunction with tourism businesses and providers, local authorities and other agencies,” he said. “These plans will be particularly focused on overseas visitors to the region.”
He added that more than 70 “orientation signs” have been rolled out across the region, with more to come in 2017.
“These are a specifically designed intervention to encourage people to explore and stay longer in the local area. Each sign promotes 10 things to see and do within an hour’s drive of the sign location.”
‘Ownership’
With Halloween deeply rooted in Irish folklore, Fáilte Ireland believes the country has “a significant opportunity to claim authentic ownership” of the autumn festival, which would encourage visitors to come here during the quieter, off-peak travel season.
“The development of traditions and customs associated with Halloween is evident across large parts of the Western world and the interest in this holiday is strong,” the tender said, adding that there is a “significant opportunity” for Ireland to capitalise on its association with the Celtic tradition.
A large number of small-scale Halloween festivals already take place throughout the country, but Fáilte Ireland wants a proposition that could be spun out into a series of year-round experiences like costumed activities and “bat walks”.
It anticipates that this will be a challenge for the successful tenderer.
“The way in which Halloween could be used to motivate visitors to explore Ireland’s Ancient East will also require investigation,” the agency said. Companies have until early September to apply.
Written by Conor McMahon and posted on Fora.ie
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Am I going mad or did I see another story on here a few hours ago saying prices and rents are going up? Make up your mind lads..
They must have hired Pearse Doherty as a journalist.
Depends whether you ask a vested interest or not…..
@Bill I wouldn’t say you’re going mad, but they’re two different things – a fall in house prices (this story) and longer-term rent rises and affordability problems (last story: http://www.thejournal.ie/economy-to-grow-in-2015-2010196-Mar2015/). Also, different economists have different views – and we try to report a range of them.
How many cash buyers?
The answer to that question might indicate who benefits from this government.
Paul, Cash Buyers have many more benefits than just what the govt gives them
On Clare Byrne Live on Monday night, a young couple who were looking to buy a house were interviewed. They clearly stated that they were constantly looking at Daft and could not even afford to buy an average terraced house as there was nothing on the market in Dublin 24 for less than €350 000. When they said this I immediately went to the Daft site and I found plenty of terraced, semi detached and bungalows all an awful lot cheaper than the price they quoted. There was one 4 bed 3 bathroom end of terrace house on the market for €370 000 (I know twenty grand over) BUT it has been on the market for a while and they seller has dropped the price by 15 000!!
http://www.daft.ie/dublin-city/houses-for-sale/dublin-24/?s%5Bpt_id%5D=1
Once again the government is spinning. It suits the government to say that property prices are on the up so they can scare young couples into buying now to bring in more property tax to service our debt.
Sorry, who do you say is spinning? The cso say that prices are down, and so do Daft.ie. Is claire byrne spinning?
I’m not sure if 1 couple interviewed represents a scientific sample, but it seems like the CSO (a state body), and daft (a private company) would have access to more information.
I’m not sure how the government could “spin” house prices. Don’t the prices have to be registered, and taxes paid? How would they control daft.ie?
Alan Kelly was more than happy to spin for this government on that show, or did you miss him. Did you also miss the article in the Sunday Indo about e-mails sent from his department to the Dept of Finance stating clearly, that they had lied about the amount of land they have on their books for building the 46000 new homes they are promising to build??? You obviously did, so here is the link to the article that confirms that Kelly is a bare faced liar.
I thought the same when I heard that on Monday. You’ll find when some people say they are looking for a property in say d24 they are actually looking for a property in a very select region(s) of d24 probably green hills or knocklyon, the same region(s) as a lot of other people who are looking in that area. The moment you start limiting your choice of area you are committing yourself to paying more. Anyone with 350k to spend and an open mind should have no problem finding a home in a nice area within the m50 or just outside it.
Good to see the jump in prices over the last year or so has levelled off. High house prices are not good for the economy.
No demand for them from regular punters, anyone in negative equity is staying put, cash speculators took the spoils at auctions ,estate agents tried to reignite the market and have failed , 15 houses on an 84 unit estate only 10 minutes walk from me remain unsold for the last 5 years , at the height of the ” boom ” 285 grand , now 80 grand builders finish , 2 @ 60 grand un plastered inside .
I would love to know where that is!!
This is a photo of a street in Cobh Co Cork
Should that not state houses are crumbling all over the country, prices remain stable.
This is the reason my rent went up €150 per month so thanks for that.
This has been caused by the Central Bank’s knee-jerk reaction in introducing completely unworkable regulations. 20% deposit means that to buy in Dublin requires first time buyers to save around 70-80K just for a deposit. Those of us in negative equity need even more than that. I am convinced their is nothing but fecking air in the heads of these regulators.
You have a house Jake. Why do you want another one?
If you’re lucky enough to be on a tracker mortgage, you’re paying a lot less than you planned when you took the mortgage out.
Rents are going up, so maybe your mortgage on your house is less than the rent would be?
Jake, a deposit off 70-80k would mean for a €500,000 house! I don’t know many first time buyers that would even be looking at them prices nowadays!
A new housing estate near Coolock and Darndale on the market for €520k
http://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/castlemoyne-balgriffin-dublin-13/2850992
For those lucky enough to have the money without getting a mortgage it is a good time to buy (outside Dublin). Then flip it when prices are higher in a few years.
Good man John!
That attitude is part of the problem. Looking for a quick buck and crying when money is lost. Property speculation should be taxed at 100% Then that money might god forbid be put to productive use maybe create a job or two.
Worked out really well last time
January and February are always slow months, post xmas. See whay happens in June and July onwards. Price increases of 15% plus in Dublin at least.
The way to promote house construction is to reduce the costs of construction through lower levies and taxes, a ridiculous portion of the cost of every new home goes in one for or another to the government (between local/central) also developers need to get it into their head that the crazy profits of the past are gone and they need to bring their expectation more into line with this new environment. If they cannot then go do something else and make room for someone who can.
Prices fallling where maybe in sticks or some absolute kip in Dublin. Good houses in respectable areas are same or deerer.
Agh…I am looking to buy in the next few months…look like I am going to do so at the VERY top of the market. Thanks karma.
Pay what you can afford and forget about the market. It’s a home not an investment. In 20-25 years it’ll be yours and the price you paid will be irrelevant.
Love the heading in the Indo “Lending limits blamed as property prices fall again”. Love the word BLAMED. If I was to use the headline it would be. “Lending limits help temper the rise in property prices”. Don’t know what Charlie Weston’s agenda is.
So politicians are telling lies, a storm is coming and are we ready to weather it? Have we any stored punts in warehouses…?
CSO data is based on mortgage draw-downs only (excluding foreign investors and cash buyers). The CB regulations just came in making it more difficult to get an extensive mortgage, so how is this a surprise to anyone?
The only real data comes from the Property Price Register – which lags behind about 2 months.
have your say