Opportunity knocks ... but not many are ready to answer
WEST Kerry producers and tourism operators have an open door to a huge market in the United States – but it’s proving difficult to get them to seize the opportunity.
Well over 1,000 exhibitors vie for a space at the Big E exposition, which is held every September in West Springfield, Massachussetts, and attracts over 1.5 million visitors over the 17 days of the event. According to Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance Chairman
Gary Curran ( pictured right) the Big E is “like the Ploughing Championship on steroids” and it offers an unrivalled opportunity for tourism operators, artists, crafts people and other producers to sell their wares.
Because West Kerry had a strong presence at the Big E in the early 1990s and because of strong emigrant links with Springfield, organisers of the annual exposition are keen to revitalise the connection. They are even willing to send a delegation to Dingle next March to help businesses here make the most of participating in the Big E. However, the response so far has been lukewarm.
Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance, in cooperation with Dingle Distillery, had a stand at the exposition this September and they found it to be a hugely valuable marketing opportunity for tourism in West Kerry. Some other local businesses, ssuch as Briain de Staic Jewellery also bbring an annual exhibition to the Big E, but for West Kerry to really benefit from the event more people need to bbecome involved.
Last Wednesday the Tourism Alliancea held two meetings in Dingle to outlineo how local businesses can take ppart and benefit from the Big E. The meetings were timed for the morning and evening to ensure everybody who was interested would have an opportunity to attend, but even though tourism is the backbone of the local economy only 30 people turned up.
Those who did attend felt the Big E offered massive possibilities to grow their businesses, according to Gary, but he said more local people need to get involved in order to make the marketing opportunity work for West Kerry.
“The goodwill that exists in Springfield towards the Dingle Peninsula is unbelievable; they want us out there and they want to help, but we need local businesses to collaborate,” said Gary.
The Tourism Alliance hopes to hold further meetings with a view to organising a broader West Kerry presence at the Big E, but meetings will only be held if people show an interest in attending. This can be done by contacting the Tourism Alliance by email on dptalliance@gmail.com