​New Tourism and Heritage Feasibility Study

B.A.C.D’s submission to the Draft County Development Plan signalled the town’s ambition as one of the few Gateway Towns from the Hidden Heartlands to the Wild Atlantic Way and our requirements to become one of the few towns in the Hidden Heartlands to evolve into a destination Tourism Hub.
 
With the refurbishment of the principal streetscapes completed, major new investments such as the Greenway, OPW, Waterways Ireland and indeed Hidden Heartland and Bord na Mona in the rewetting of bogs means its timely to undertake a Feasibility Study to offer a best practice route map for the development of a formal Tourism and Heritage Plan 2022 – 2027 for our community.
 
BACD has received a welcome grant towards the facilitation and compilation of the study from GRD Leader.
 
Expressly the plan will:

• Identify an inventory of visitor tourism and heritage attractions
• analyse the market position of all offering vis a vis competitors 
• analyse the event, hospitality and facility capabilities and positioning
• examine the positioning of Ballinasloe and its current offerings as per the new Fáilte Ireland, Hidden Heartlands, Tourism Ireland, Irish Hotels Federation, Irish Waterways, OPW, Inland Fisheries, NWRA and Western Development Commission revised strategies .

 
It will also engage with the key private and voluntary stakeholders in Culture, Heritage and Tourism Trade as to what plans they have and what support is needed over the next 60 months, along with examining models of best practice and innovative co-ordination and marketing utilised by other communities and determine which may be best for town and hinterland.  
 
The final report will suggest some key priority actions for short-term implementation.
 
Working Groups are being established in Leisure & Amenities, Hospitality & Trade, Heritage & Genealogy, Culture and Events to assist and it's hoped a first draft will be available in a few months time .  Any ideas or suggestions please to [email protected]