Donegal County Council’s Tourism Unit, together with Fáilte Ireland and Local Enterprise Office Donegal, will host five business clinics across the county in November.
The clinics mark a further collaboration between the three bodies to assist both new and existing businesses to diversify into the tourism industry.
The joint initiative will offer opportunities to discuss ideas for tourism businesses with local tourism officers from Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council. Together they will help operators to identify the appropriate supports and next steps to advancing their tourism business idea.
The clinics will be available to individuals and businesses in county Donegal who are considering, or at the early stages of starting a tourism business, wish to diversify into tourism from an existing business or are an existing tourism business wishing to expand their product.
Joan Crawford, Client Service Manager at Fáilte Ireland, stated, "The county and wider region present numerous opportunities for tourism growth. These business clinics serve as a valuable platform for discussions with our team. Our goal is to ensure that as many businesses as possible benefit from these clinics. If you have an idea for a new tourism attraction or activity, we encourage you to come and speak with our team. They will evaluate your concept, assess its viability, and direct you towards the appropriate supports."
Tourism Manager at Donegal County Council Joy Browne said ‘there are so many great ideas out there and so much passion for tourism in the county. We would encourage anyone who is thinking about setting up a tourism business, diversifying their current business to a tourism product or are an existing tourism business, to get in touch. There are lots of supports out there for businesses in or wishing to get into the tourism space and our knowledgeable tourism officers can help operators make the best of everything that is available.’
Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office of Donegal County Council said ‘time and time again we have seen how collaboration between both businesses and agencies in the county has led to fruitful results for all concerned. We are delighted to support these clinics and with tourism as such an important economic driver for Donegal, any initiative that seeks to support new tourism businesses is to be encouraged.’
Chief Executive of Donegal County Council and Chair of Donegal Tourism CLG John G. McLaughlin encouraged businesses looking to make the leap to reach out “this is a great opportunity for businesses or potential businesses to sit down and get great advice for free. Our teams are very knowledgeable about tourism in the county and will steer you in the right direction.”
Slots are allocated for 30 minutes and will be happening in venues across Donegal during the month of November.
If you’re interested in attending one of the clinics, please express your interest by emailing
waw@failteireland.ie or
tourism@donegalcoco.ie
Clinicí maidir le Gnó Turasóireachta le dul chun sochair do dhaoine ar fud an chontae
Déanfaidh Aonad Turasóireachta Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall i gcomhar le Fáilte Éireann agus Oifig Fiontair Áitiúil Dhún na nGall, cúig chlinic maidir le gnó turasóireachta a reáchtáil ar fud an chontae i mí na Samhna.
Beidh tuilleadh comhoibrithe ar bun idir na trí rannpháirtithe de bharr na gclinicí seo, a dhéanfaidh freastal ar ghnólachtaí nua agus reatha ar mhaith leo éagsúlú i dtreo earnáil na turasóireachta.
Cuirfidh an comhthionscnamh seo deiseanna ar fáil le smaointe a bhaineann le gnó turasóireachta a phlé le hoifigigh de chuid Fáilte Éireann agus Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Le chéile, inseoidh siad do dhaoine faoi na tacaíochtaí cuí atá ar fáil agus cuideoidh siad leo na chéad chéimeanna eile a ghlacadh chun a smaoineamh maidir le gnó turasóireachta a fhorbairt.
Tá na clinicí ar fáil do dhaoine aonair agus do ghnólachtaí i gCo. Dhún na nGall atá ag smaoineamh ar ghnó turasóireachta a thosú nó atá i dtús an phróisis, ar mian leo éagsúlú ó ghnólacht bunaithe go cúrsaí turasóireachta nó a bhfuil gnó turasóireachta ar bun acu cheana féin agus ar mhaith leo cur leis.
Thug Joan Crawford, Bainisteoir na Seirbhísí Cliant le Fáilte Éireann le fios, “Tá cuid mhór deiseanna sa chontae agus sa réigiún i gcoitinne ó thaobh forbairt turasóireachta de. Is ardán luachmhar iad na clinicí gnó seo le rudaí a phlé lenár bhfoireann. Is é ár n-aidhm ná a chinntiú go rachaidh na clinicí seo chun sochair don oiread gnólachtaí agus is féidir. Má tá aon smaoineamh agat a bhaineann le gné nó gníomhaíocht nua turasóireachta, molaimid duit a theacht agus labhairt lenár bhfoireann. Déanfaidh siad do choincheap a mheas, déanfar measúnú ar a inmharthana is atá sé, agus inseoidh siad duit faoi na tacaíochtaí cuí atá ar fáil duit.”
Dúirt Bainisteoir Turasóireachta le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, Joy Browne ‘tá an oiread smaointe maithe agus paisean don turasóireacht sa chontae. Molaimid do dhuine ar bith atá ag smaoineamh ar ghnó turasóireachta a chur ar bun, nó ar mhaith leo éagsúlú ó ghnólacht bunaithe go táirge turasóireachta nó a bhfuil gnó turasóireachta ar bun acu cheana féin, teagmháil a dhéanamh linn. Tá go leor tacaíochtaí ar fáil do ghnólachtaí a bhfuil baint acu le cúrsaí turasóireachta nó ar mhaith leo bheith mar chuid den earnáil sin. Is féidir lenár n-oifigigh turasóireachta cuidiú le daoine an chuid is fearr a bhaint as a bhfuil ar fáil dóibh.’
Dúirt Brenda Hegarty, Ceannasaí Fiontraíochta leis an Oifig Fiontair Áitiúil, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall ‘go mbíonn dea-thoradh arís agus arís eile ar chomhoibriú idir gnólachtaí agus gníomhaireachtaí sa chontae. Tá muid sásta tacú leis na clinicí seo agus leis an turasóireacht atá mar ábhar chothaithe don eacnamaíocht i nDún na nGall. Déanfar aon tionscnamh a bhfuil sé i gceist aige tacú le gnólachtaí nua turasóireachta, a chothú.’
Mhol Príomh-Fheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall agus Cathaoirleach ar Thurasóireacht Dhún na nGall CTR do ghnólachtaí ar mian leo céim chun cinn a ghlacadh, tacaíocht a lorg “is deis iontach í seo do ghnólachtaí nó do ghnólachtaí a bhfuil an-mhianach iontu, suí síos agus comhairle iontach a fháil saor in aisce. Tá ár bhfoirne an-eolach ar chúrsaí turasóireachta sa chontae agus cuirfidh siad ar bhealach do leasa thú.”
Mairfidh gach seisiún 30 bomaite agus beidh siad ar siúl in ionaid éagsúla ar fud Dhún na nGall le linn mhí na Samhna.
Má tá suim agat freastal ar cheann de na clinicí, léirigh do shuim trí r-phost a sheoladh chuig
waw@failteireland.ie nó
tourism@donegalcoco.ie