This week, over 50 tourism businesses from West Cork and Kenmare attended a special Fáilte Ireland networking event in the Maritime Hotel, Bantry.
The event was organised by Fáilte Ireland to build collaboration across the tourism industry from West Cork and Kenmare, encouraging businesses to collaborate and cross-sell, to attract visitors and inspire them to explore the counties and all that they have to offer.
Further Collaboration
“We’re really pleased that so many West Cork and Kenmare tourism businesses joined us for this networking event,” said Josephine O’ Driscoll, Wild Atlantic Way manager with Fáilte Ireland.
“There have been so many new additions and updates to the tourism offering in the region, it was important to come together today and identify opportunities to develop closer working relationships and encourage cross-selling and further collaboration, to encourage visitors to explore further, stay longer, and spend more.”
Wild Atlantic Way
At the event, face-to-face networking sessions with over 300 appointments were facilitated among accommodation providers, visitor attractions, and activities, to provide them with the opportunity to forge new connections and renew old ones.
The meetings focused on how tourism businesses can work together to collectively sell the region as an exciting destination with a range of things to see and do for all demographics of visitors.
Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way team provided attendees with an update on key initiatives for the destination, while Irish writer, traveller and documentary-maker Manchán Magan talked about West Cork and Kenmare being a pioneering destination, a place of fresh thinking based on old traditions with so much tourism potential when businesses and communities collaborate and work together.
‘Lasting Impact’
“Today’s event gave us the opportunity to showcase not only our amazing products, but also to connect, collaborate, and create experiences that leave a lasting impact beyond our borders,” said West Cork and Kenmare Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) co-chairs Des O’Dowd (Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa) and Neil Lucey (Gougane Barra Hotel).
“The new relationships and collaborations ignited today will not only enhance the visitor’s experience, but also for the benefit of the local communities who live and work here.”
