Discover ‘the local’ when it comes to your 2019 holiday plans
THE successful promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East is without question one the major master strokes of recent times. Even though many of us are already familiar with these areas, the use of marketing and positive promotion has generated a renewed interest in our rugged and unspoilt coastline and ancient landscapes.
Irish people are now travelling abroad more frequently than ever – mainly thanks to accessibility from regional airports like Kerry, Cork and Shannon. But they also want to enjoy ‘staycations’ closer to home. Why? One reason is that people have experienced quite a number of overseas destinations already and they now feel they want to discover all that’s wonderful about home. Time constraints, family, work and financial circumstances also mean people are exploring the option of holidaying closer to home.
We tend to take our own environment and scenic splendour for granted, but by pausing to really enjoy what Ireland has to offer in terms of beauty is an ever growing trend among locals. The staycation is the new trend where people enjoy hiking, golf, cycling and walking holidays nearer to home. What’s not to enjoy about mountains and miles of pristine coastline?
Accommodation is now more competitive and of a high standard with a plethora of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs all embracing the staycation trend. A greater appreciation of Ireland’s food culture has also spiralled in recent years with food provenance, sourcing and quality now as much a factor as how the food tastes. Food festivals celebrate the wonders of all that’s local which is appreciated by local and international tourists alike.
The age of interaction through social media has also brought many of the local tourist gems to light as many people have stumbled upon their holiday destination by coincidence of the fact they saw it online. Through social media you can easily gauge by people’s experiences what to expect from a destination. Use this when planning a staycation.
Another benefit of a staycation is that it reduces stress. Holidays are often book-ended by lots of travel which means it takes time to get to and from your destination. Nothing very informative about that I hear you say, except I’ve yet to hear of someone speak about how much they enjoyed their time travelling to and from a holiday destination! This is where stress enters the equation. So choosing a weekend away, just a short drive from home, leaves more time for actual holidaying. This is a quiet time of year which means you’ll have all the beaches, walkways and historic sites in the county to yourself, plus a cosy and quiet accommodation to return to when it’s time to relax, have a meal and enjoy an evening far away from the madding crowds. You’ll also be spending money at home and helping to sustain jobs during the quietest time for the sector.