News Release -
Taoiseach launches tourist website and discount card
Shannon Region tourism projects have potential to be rolled out nationally
The Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD was in Scarriff, Co. Clare today (Friday 11th June 2010) to launch a number of new tourism projects. Among them two Shannon Development initiatives, a tourism website under the EU Cantata 2 programme and a new discount card which offers 25% discount off entry fees to a range of Shannon Region visitor attractions and activities.
Speaking at the event the Taoiseach said; “I am delighted to be in Co. Clare to launch a number of new tourism initiatives which will help add to the areas appeal as a ‘must visit’ holiday destination.”
Commenting on the potential of the two new tourism projects Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive Shannon Development said; “We believe that lessons learned by the B&B sector through the Cantata 2 project, and our new tourism Discount Card, have the potential to be rolled out nationally.”
CANTATA 2 is a three year EU project. It is being managed by Shannon Development, the tourism authority for the Shannon Region. They are working closely with partners throughout the Region including members of the tourism trade, and Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary County Councils. In total 15 tourism operators from the B&B sectors are members of CANTATA 2, five in each county. Four other countries Spain, France, Portugal, and Wales are also participating in the project, which is hoped will lead to international networking opportunities.
“The aim of the project is to help B&B’s in counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary to develop a unique offering that will assist them in competing more effectively with other accommodation sectors. With the recent increase in hotel accommodation, the B&B sector has suffering a decline in business. The pilot Cantata 2 project will help members of the B&B sector throughout the Shannon Region to develop a new approach to their businesses and devise ways to reinvent and re-establish their mark in the tourism sector,” said Dr. Cunnane.
Three new networks of five independent B&B operators in East Clare, the Estuary area of Limerick and the Thurles/ Holycross in North Tipperary have been established.
Shannon Development has been working with the five local B&B operators in East Clare, and Clare County Council to devise a new website which the Taoiseach officially launched today. The website can be viewed at www.cantata2.ie and highlights details of the participating B&B’s, local attractions, festival and events, with a strong emphasis on value for money holiday packages. Additional special offers will be added to the website regularly.
“The Project is helping connect businesses, and is creating business networks that will continue to grow long after the project finishes. It is a wonderful example of what can be achieved through partnership approach,” said Dr. Cunnane.
The Taoiseach also launched a new Shannon Region Discount Card to give the Region a competitive advantage over other destinations. The idea for the card came about as a direct result of research carried out by Shannon Development in the US. This showed the perception of Ireland as being an expensive destination. It is hoped that the new card will remedy this impression and encourage Ireland, and the Shannon Region, to become top of the US tourists ‘must visit’ list.
The card was devised by Shannon Development and designed like a credit card to fit easily into wallets. It offers a 25% discount on a range of visitor attractions and activities. Already over 30 operators of tourist attractions and activities in the Shannon Region have signed up to the scheme for 2010. It is envisaged that this will continue to grow and develop into 2011. Uniquely these discounts are available all year round with no dates blocked off.
Over 50,000 discount cards are being distributed to potential visitors in key overseas tourism markets by Shannon Development’s tourism team. The cards are distributed free of charge to tourists, and a list of participating locations can be downloaded from the Shannon Development Tourism website – www.ShannonRegionTourism.com.
“We have brought the project a step further by making all the participating attractions and activities accessible on Sat Nav systems. This means that visitors can access this information before they travel, making planning their holiday much easier. Last year Shannon Development became the first state agency in Ireland to use GPS satellite navigation systems to map visitor attractions, activities and accommodation.
‘Through our Shannon Broadband partners in the Region’s local authorities, we undertook a pilot GPS project last year to map points of interest in parts of Clare and Tipperary. This proved so successful that we decided to roll it out around the Region.
‘To-date we have 1,500 points of interest listed and this is growing. It covers everything from accommodation to visitor attractions and tourist activities. I would ask any tourism operators not already featured to log onto our Shannon Broadband website www.shannonbroadband.com where they will learn how to get involved,” said Dr. Cunnane.
Pictured at the launch are (l-r): Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development; Tony Killeen TD Minister for Defence; Vera O’ Rourke B&B operator and CANTATA 2 project member from Mountshannon; Darren McNamara from McNamara’s Pub Scarriff; Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD; Ursula Hogan B&B operator and CANTATA 2 project member from Mountshannon; and Timmy Dooley TD.
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