New tourism centre hopes to attract 70,000 visitors a year
TRALEE’S newest tourist attraction, the multi million euro Wetlands Centre close to Ballyard, is on track to opens its doors to the public on March 31.
All major building and construction work is now complete and workers on site are now busy kitting out the visitor centre and viewing tower and landscaping the 25 acre site.
Meanwhile the process has begun to find three permanent staff, a manager, ecologist and administrative assistant for the centre, which when fully open will employ 15 seasonal staff on site as well as further staff in the centre’s café.
Work on the centre, which was co-financed and developed by Tralee Town Council with support from Failte Ireland, began in September 2010 and council management are confident the centre will be ready for visitors in time for the tourist season.
It’s hoped the Wetlands Centre will bring as many as 70,000 visitors to the county capital each year.
The educational market will be key to the centre’s success and work has already begun to promote the facility in schools across the country ahead of its opening.
John Griffin of Tralee Town Council said the centre will “provide a window on the diverse and spectacular Tralee Bay Nature Reserve”.
The site is divided into two zones — an activity zone, which is free to access, and the nature zone, which will require a nominal fee to enter.
The nature section features a range of facilities and activities including an eco-friendly visitor centre where visitors will be introduced to the Tralee Bay ecosystem, recreated fresh and saltwater habitats, a safari boat ride, pond dipping activities for children and access to the 20 metre high viewing tower with panoramic views of Tralee Bay and the surrounding area.
The “activity zone” includes a light watersports lake, 2.2km of walks and cycleway and a smaller ‘learn to fish lake’ for young and novice anglers.
The wetlands centre is the first nature tourism project of its kind in the south of Ireland.
A new station has also been provided for the Tralee- Blennerville Steam Railway, which it is hoped will be operational again by Summer 2013.
“Visitors are introduced to the world famous Tralee Bay ecosystem in the visitor centre through an audiovisual presentation, static and interactive exhibits and a video tour with local wildlife expert Frank King,” he said.
“The Wetlands Park will address a gap in the nature and soft adventure market which is one of the fastest growing sectors in international tourism,” said Mr Griffin.