Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2017
52. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with Fáilte Ireland to ensure that there is a marketing budget put in place to promote County Donegal, further to the county being nominated by a magazine (details supplied) as the coolest place on the planet to visit in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14072/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTourism Ireland is responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a holiday and business tourism destination and undertakes extensive marketing campaigns in 23 key source markets for tourism to Ireland. Within Ireland, individual counties may compete for domestic visitors. Research carried out for Tourism Ireland indicates that the level of awareness of Ireland's county boundaries is low among potential overseas visitors, and therefore expenditure by public or private entities on marketing an individual county to consumers in overseas markets is unlikely to provide an adequate return on investment.
I am delighted that National Geographic Traveller has named Donegal at the top of its list of 'coolest places to visit' in 2017. Donegal features prominently in Tourism Ireland’s global marketing activity. For example last autumn, filming took place at places like Malin Head, Fanad Lighthouse, Glenveagh National Park and Slieve League in Donegal for Tourism Ireland footage of the Donegal section of the Wild Atlantic Way. Tourism Ireland has rolled out a series of Wild Atlantic Way advertising campaigns in overseas markets over the past year, in which Donegal has featured.
Donegal, and the accolade received from National Geographic Traveller, are highlighted on Tourism Ireland's suite of international websites as well as through Tourism Ireland's social media platforms. Donegal continues to be extensively promoted through a series of Wild Atlantic Way adverts and will feature in the upcoming Star Wars film providing a superb promotional opportunity. Tourism Ireland also works with overseas travel, lifestyle and special interest media as part of their overseas promotional programme. I understand that Tourism Ireland recently provided details of such campaigns to the Deputy.
In 2016 Fáilte Ireland invested €1.7m on marketing the Wild Atlantic Way and, along with the local authorities from Donegal to Galway, have co-funded a marketing campaign in Great Britain in 2017 in which Donegal features heavily.
