The biggest tourism networking event of the year in the county will take place this Wednesday (March 4th) at Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey. Donegal Tourism Connect, hosted by Donegal County Council’s Tourism Unit and Fáilte Ireland will see tourism businesses from across the county gather to meet their peers and discuss potential collaborations as part of Local Enterprise Week.
They will also hear from keynote speaker, renowned international tourism thought leader, author and destination expert Doug Lansky. Doug has advised destinations around the world on how to innovate, attract visitors and build sustainable success. The MC for the day will be Donegal's own Andrea Gilligan, host of Lunchtime Live on Newstalk. A panel discussion “Built on Belief’ - a look at how conviction, collaboration, and community are shaping Donegal’s tourism offer.” will also offer an insight into the resilience and belief of a number of businesses in the county.
Over 130 tourism businesses have registered to attend, with over 500 meetings scheduled on the day – almost double the number of appointments at last year’s event.
Chief Executive of Donegal County Council and Chair of Donegal Tourism CLG John G McLaughlin is looking forward to the event “We are very encouraged by the growth of the event since last year and the commitment of the tourism businesses to attend and meet fellow businesses from across the county with the intention of collaborating over the coming months and years. There’ll be lots of learnings to be had on the day and I wish everyone taking part a successful seminar and prosperous season ahead.’
Wild Atlantic Way manager at Fáilte Ireland Joan Crawford added ‘Donegal Tourism Connect is now in its second year and we are thrilled to see the response from the tourism businesses who wish to attend and network during the event. Under the theme of Local Enterprise Week “Belief” all these businesses have the confidence in their contribution to tourism in Donegal and understand the power of collaboration. We know that many new partnerships will be forged on the day and new ideas created as a result.”
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Paul Canning said “Enterprise Week is all about showcasing the businesses of Donegal and there’s no better place for our tourism businesses to promote themselves to each other than at Donegal Tourism Connect. I’d like to thank our partners at Fáilte Ireland for their collaboration on the event with our own team ensuring the best possible platform for tourism businesses in the county to shine on the day.”
Ends
Breis is 130 gnólacht turasóireachta ag teacht le chéile ag Nasc Turasóireachta Dhún na nGall
Beidh mórócáid nasctha turasóireachta Dhún na nGall ar siúl Dé Céadaoin seo chugainn, 4 Márta, in Óstán Jackson i mBealach Féich. Beidh gnólachtaí turasóireachta as achan chearn den chontae ag teacht le chéile le linn Nasc Turasóireachta Dhún na nGall, atá á óstáil ag Aonad Turasóireachta Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall agus Fáilte Éireann. Buailfidh na gnólachtaí lena gcomhghleacaithe chun plé a dhéanamh ar fhéidearthachtaí le comhoibriú mar chuid de Sheachtain Fiontair Áitiúil.
Beidh Doug Lansky mar aoichainteoir ar an lá. Is ceannaire smaointeoireachta ar thurasóireacht idirnáisiúnta é, chomh maith le bheith ina údar agus ina shaineolaí ar áiteanna mar cheann scríbe. Tá comhairle tugtha ag Doug do cheann scríbe ar fud an domhain le go mbeadh siad nuálach, le cuairteoirí a mhealladh chucu agus le rath inbhuanaithe a bhaint amach iontu. Is í Andrea Gilligan de bhunadh Dhún na nGall agus a bhíonn i mbun ‘Lunchtime Live’ ar Newstalk, a bheidh ina bean an tí ag an ócáid. Tabharfaidh pléphainéal dar teideal “Bunaithe ar Chreideamh”- léargas ar an dóigh a múnlaíonn diongbháilteacht, comhoibriú agus pobal tairiscint turasóireachta Dhún na nGall.” Tabharfar léargas fosta ar theacht aniar agus ar mhuinín roinnt gnólachtaí sa chontae.
Tá breis is 130 gnólacht turasóireachta cláraithe le freastal, agus tá breis is 500 cruinniú beartaithe don lá - beagnach dhá oiread níos mó ná líon na gcoinní a bhí ag ócáid na bliana seo caite.
Tá Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall agus Cathaoirleach ar Thurasóireacht Dhún na nGall CTR, John G. McLaughlin, ag súil leis an ócáid. “Is spreagadh dúinn é an borradh a tháinig ar an ócáid ó bhí anuraidh ann agus a thiomanta is atá na gnólachtaí freastal ar an ócáid agus bualadh le gnólachtaí eile ó áiteanna ar fud na contae agus é mar aidhm acu comhoibriú lena chéile sna míonna agus sna blianta amach romhainn. Beidh go leor le foghlaim ar an lá agus guím gach rath ar gach duine a bheas páirteach ann is go n-éirí leis an seimineár agus go raibh séasúr rathúil rompu.”
Dúirt bainisteoir ar Shlí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin le Fáilte Éireann, Joan Crawford, “Seo an dara bliain de Nasc Turasóireachta Dhún na nGall agus is mór againn a fheiceáil ó na gnólachtaí turasóireachta gur mian leo freastal agus comhoibriú a chothú le linn na hócáide. Is é ‘Creideamh’ téama Sheachtain Fiontair Áitiúil agus tá muinín ag na gnólachtaí seo go léir as a rannpháirtíocht in earnáil turasóireachta Dhún na nGall agus tuigeann siad cumhacht an chomhoibrithe. Tá a fhios againn go gcothófar go leor comhpháirtíochtaí nua ar an lá agus go dtiocfaidh smaointe nua chun cinn dá bharr.”
Dúirt Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, an Clr Paul Canning, “Is é an aidhm atá le Seachtain Fiontair Áitiúil ná gnólachtaí i nDún na nGall a chur i lár an aonaigh agus níl aon áit níos fearr lenár ngnólachtaí turasóireachta a chur chun cinn i measc a chéile ná ag Nasc Turasóireachta Dhún na nGall. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil lenár gcomhpháirtithe i bhFáilte Éireann as comhoibriú lenár bhfoireann féin ar an ócáid, chun an t-ardán is fearr a chinntiú do ghnólachtaí turasóireachta sa chontae chun gur féidir leo bheith i mbarr a réime.”
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