Fáilte Ireland has started a study to examine how the cruise tourism sector can be developed and grown in the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands region over the next decade, according to a statement published on Fáilte Ireland's website.
Details
According to the statement published on FáilteIreland.ie, the aim is to rejuvenate and develop the cruise hire fleet to provide visitors with a "diversified, environmentally friendly, world-class experience along the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway."
Statements By Head of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands At Fáilte Ireland
The statement published on Fáilte Ireland quoted head of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland Paddy Mathews as saying that "there is a clear opportunity to grow this market,", and, "The cruise hire offering in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands has always been positioned as a high-quality product and we want to ensure that we can grow its economic value to communities all along the Shannon while also ensuring it contributes to raising awareness of and protecting our natural environment."
The statement also quoted Mathews as saying, "The cruise hire product on the Shannon is considered a signature experience within Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, however the reduction in fleet size and the increase in its age poses significant challenges for its continued success. We expect this study will provide an overview and roadmap for the future development of the cruise hire sector and identify solutions, through working with key stakeholders and industry, to support the sector to access sustainable options to encourage the growth and greening of their fleet and sector over next 10 years."
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