merrion street

The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., today officially launched the Local Authorities Tourism Conference "Collaborate Locally to Compete Globally" in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. A local authority sectoral tourism conference was first proposed by the Minister to the County and City Management Association (CCMA) last October and this event was the culmination of a partnership approach between his staff and the local government sector.

The Government’s Tourism Policy Statement “People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025” commits to giving Local Authorities an enhanced role in tourism. The subsequent Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018 includes a specific action requiring each Local Authority to produce a tourism strategy and a commitment to hold a conference to bring together the varied stakeholders in local tourism to exchange best practice.

Speaking at the launch Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to be invited by the County and City Management Association to address this important inaugural Local Government Tourism Conference today. Firstly, I would like to congratulate all 31 Local Authorities on the production of such impressive Statements of Strategy and Workplans. Local Authorities have long recognised the importance of tourism as a contributor to the local economy and have actively engaged with local communities, tourism and hospitality businesses and the State agencies to develop their local tourism experiences. That’s why this event is so significant; it is the coming together of all local authorities in the country, to share learnings and best practices and to listen to experts in the tourism field. This will ensure that, together, we will continue to grow and develop our tourism offering in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

A wide ranging list of speakers will address the "Collaborate Locally to Compete Globally" conference including:

Raymond Coyle (Tayto Park), Justin Reid (Tripadvisor), Prof Jim Deegan, (U.L.), Jane Magnier (Abbey Tours), Joe McGrath (CCMA), Cllr Paddy Kavanagh (Wexford Co Co), Natasha Kinsella (Regional Skills Forum), Dr Catherine Gorman (D.I.T.), Gerard Dollard (Clare Co Co- Cliffs of Moher Experience), Joanne Grehan, (Mayo Co Co- Ireland West Airport Knock Partnership), Simon Kay (Center Parcs), David McLoughlin (Wexford Opera Festival), Christine Flood (Wicklow County Council - Wicklow Film Destination), Moira Murrell (Kerry Co Co), Paul Kelly (Fáilte Ireland), Shane Clarke (Tourism Ireland), Anna Marie Delaney (CCMA), Seamus Neely (Donegal Tourism), John Boyle (Waterways Ireland), Orla Carroll (Fáilte Ireland), Ed Hearne (Fingal Co Co), Kevin Baird (Irish Heritage Trust), Vincent Campbell (OPW), Paddy Mathews (Fáilte Ireland), Paul Moynihan (Cork Co Co- Cork English Market), John Mulcahy (Fáilte Ireland), Sarah Morgan (MidlandsIreland.ie), Seamus Heaney (Cork Convention Bureau) and Declan Kirrane (Offaly County Council - Lough Boora).