Fáilte Ireland is calling for local communities in Donegal to get involved in the development of a significant new driving route for the west coast.
The Wild Atlantic Way is set to be Ireland’s first long-distance driving route for tourists, featuring a 1,400km driving route from Donegal to West Cork.
The tourism authority will be holding a series of public exhibitions and consultation sessions along the west coast in November and December.
Two meetings will be held in County Donegal and these include –
DONEGAL TOWN – Wednesday 5th December @ 11am to 2pm in the Millpark Hotel
LETTERKENNY – Wednesday 5th December @ 4.30pm to 7.30pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Over the past three months, Fáilte Ireland together with all the Local Authorities along the West Coast – including the Leader Companies, Údaras na Gaeltachta and the Western Development Commission – has examined a range of route options for the Wild Atlantic Way.
It is now seeking the views of tourism businesses and communities on a preferred route which has been identified.
Funding of €1.8 million was announced earlier this year for a pilot stage of the Wild Atlantic Way project in Connemara which is now under way.
Speaking today about the project, Paddy Mathews from Fáilte Ireland said “The next two years will involve a lot of hard work – developing a series of world class viewing points along the west coast, erecting directional signs, developing loops and itineraries in each of the destinations through which the route passes and devising a comprehensive marketing strategy and campaign.
“Most importantly though, we will be working with the local tourism industry so that they are ready to capitalise on the opportunities that will be on offer as a result of the Wild Atlantic Way.”
Fáilte Ireland will publish a Route Identification Report on its website (www.failteireland.ie/wildatlanticway) on Wednesday 14th November, which will contain proposals for a ‘preferred route’ for the Wild Atlantic Way. Views and comments are being invited and should be received in writing by Friday 14th December.
To begin the development process, the spine of the route will be identified – the single route that will lead the visitor along the Atlantic coast – and then later in 2013, it will be supplemented by identifying loops off the spine which will encourage visitors to circulate within the wider destinations along the west coast.
It is anticipated that the Wild Atlantic Way will be launched in 2014 – the current stage, identifying the route, is only the start of the process to develop a driving route to rival the best in the world.
Tags: