LEADER staff Eileen Dake; Seamus Doran; Marian Furlong; Brian Kehoe; Tom Bermingham and Helena Dempsey
NICHE TOURISM projects in County Wexford are set to benefit, following the announcement that €500,000 of LEADER Programme grant aid is to be made available to them over the coming months.
Wexford Local Development (WLD) CEO Brian Kehoe made the announcement recently.
The funding is to be targeted at both existing businesses and new business start-ups and will offer a fantastic opportunity for projects which display innovation, job creation and job retention potential in the activity, adventure, eco, marine and heritage tourism sectors.
Tourism development is a critical driver of economic activity in Wexford and this continued development of the sector will offer huge potential to revitalise local economies, provide job opportunities and enhance the quality of life on offer to people in our communities.
As Mr. Kehoe outlined, Wexford attracts the fifth highest number of domestic tourists of all counties in Ireland but now must meet the challenge of developing initiatives which dovetail with the ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ branding campaign from Fáilte Ireland.
Success in this regard will ensure County Wexford can capitalise on the targeted 600,000 additional overseas visitors to Ireland by 2020, which will increase visitor revenue by 25 per cent.
In essence, County Wexford’s primary tourism goal is to get people to visit, to stay for longer and to spend more while here.
Given that tourists are always looking for a new and a different experience, WLD Enterprise Specialists Tom Bermingham and Helena Dempsey are keen to hear from tourism businesses and entrepreneurs with plans to develop new offerings which will help to attract additional tourists to the county.
Investment in niche tourism businesses through the previous LEADER programme has delivered substantial benefits for the County Wexford economy.
Through the new LEADER programme, the continued provision of grant aid to start-up and developing tourism enterprises will maximize the county’s future competitiveness as a visitor destination.
Wexford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), in partnership with WLD, has responsibility for the delivery of the new LEADER programme in the county under the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Closing date for receipt of completed forms is midday on Tuesday, February 28th.
Read more in the Wexford Echo.