This week Fáilte Ireland outlined their plans to help propel the Wild Atlantic Way into becoming one of the five biggest tourism routes on earth in the next decade.
Over 1000 tourism industry operators, providers, and employers from across the Wild Atlantic Way were given a special online briefing from Fáilte Ireland this week which outlined the plans and priorities for the region in 2025 and beyond.
Key priorities in 2025 will focus on developing and opening new and enhanced capital projects, the continued sustainable development of the region, protecting and enhancing the uniqueness of the Wild Atlantic Way and delivering a robust range of practical supports to help tourism businesses tackle some of the immediate challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
One of those key priorities also includes the continued development of Artlink Fort Dunree, with the redevelopment works there tabled to be finished by 2028.
In total six new capital projects across the Wild Atlantic Way are set to open in 2025:
Dún Aonghasa, Inis Mór, Galway: Redevelopment of the visitor centre to focus on climate change and ancient inhabitants, with satellite interpretation hubs.
Carrowmore, Co. Sligo: New immersive exhibition linking to the Céide Fields, positioning Carrowmore as a Neolithic exploration hub.
New Farm Trail, Connemara National Park, Co. Galway: Opening a previously inaccessible part of the park to alleviate pressure on existing trails.
Bray Head Signature Discovery Point, Co. Kerry: Transformed Signal Tower with a new viewing platform offering views of the Skelligs.
Outdoor Water Sports Facilities: Four water sports facilities due be completed in 2025, one located on the Wild Atlantic Way at Fenit in Co. Kerry. Overall, 12 of these facilities are due to be delivered along the Wild Atlantic Way in the coming years.
Fáilte Ireland have also outlined their plans for 2025 for locations along the coast between Connemara and Donegal, with the focus for this year on increasing international visitor profiles and revenue.
Plans were also outlined to maintain the “cultural authenticity and wildness of the west coast” with further investments in Gaeltacht communities and the expansion of the “Gaelige agus Fáilte” programme which helps tourism businesses incorporate the Irish language into their experiences.
