New tourism plan aims for 700 jobs
A new tourism roadmap plans to boost visitor numbers to Sligo by over 80,000, boost tourism revenue by ¤30million and create 700 new jobs in the next five years.
Members formally adopted the 20182023 County Sligo Tourism Strategy at this month’s February Council meeting. W.B. Yeats was chosen as the lead theme. Managing Director of First Western Ltd Enda Candon, who researched and developed the strategy on behalf of Sligo Tourism Ltd, presented the draft for approval before members at the meeting.
He said the creation of 700 new tourism sector jobs by 2023 would be “a significant and valuable contribution to the local economy.”
He said their “relatively ambitious” vision was that by 2023 Sligo would be a top 10 performing county with 3,400 employed in the tourism sector, ¤149million revenue generated and 550,000 visitors.
Yeats will be the major theme, followed by secondary themes of Outdoor Activity, Archaeology and Culture & Creativity.
It’s believed Yeats is what gives Sligo a unique selling point and has the pulling power to bring in 100,000+ visitors a year.
Mr Candon proposed to focus support on just 6-7 larger festival events that have the ability to attract bed nights and grow business at off peak times. He also said Sligo will have to develop a “more unified brand” online and develop a ‘ best in class’ website and programme of digital marketing.
The new strategy was welcomed and approved by all members.
Cllr Tom MacSharry said he was glad to see the plan was ambitious but pointed to the fact that Sligo was lacking a Tourism Officer.
Cllr Hubert Keaney said tourism should be seen as a real employment strategy for young people and spend on tourism had “fallen way short.” “We will have to come up to the plate on that - we need to create these jobs for our young people,” he said.
Cllr Marie Casserly said the target of 700 new jobs seemed “manageable” to her. Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady was concerned that Limerick was developing a Yeats tourist experience which she hoped would not pass out Sligo. Cllr Chris MacManus said the one ‘ known unknown’ was Brexit but praised the targets set. Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes said all stakeholders were on board. “Yeats is the hook. It’s what’s unique to Sligo and will drive investment and jobs,” he said.