The Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative In Northern Ireland Max Bryant Manager
CONTENTS •Introduction •The Origins Of The NRRTI Programme •STL’s Objectives Through NRRTI •Impact So Far •Governance •Highlighted Projects •Conclusion
THE ORIGINS OF THE NRRTI PROGRAMME •Arose out of the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation •A joint initiative from DARD, EHS and NITB •DARD oversees the implementation of the programme with local partnerships. •NRRTI’s purpose is to ‘Maximise tourism development by utilising natural and cultural resources in a sustainable manner in Northern Ireland’s disadvantaged rural areas’
NRRTI IN THE SPERRINS NRRTI IN THE SPERRINS � 138 Projects 138 Projects � � Across 7 Council Areas Across 7 Council Areas � � Taking in 31 Rural Disadvantaged Taking in 31 Rural Disadvantaged � Wards Wards � Receiving Receiving £ £3.4 million for Tourism and 3.4 million for Tourism and � Product Development Product Development
Sperrins Tourism Ltd Sperrins Tourism Ltd Example Wards NRRTI area NRRTI area •Garvagh •Feeny •Draperstown •Moneymore •Gortin •Banagher •Castlederg
STL’ ’S OBJECTIVES THROUGH S OBJECTIVES THROUGH STL NRRTI NRRTI � Increase the number of tourist nights Increase the number of tourist nights � � Increase the average spend per night Increase the average spend per night � � Increase the number of jobs in tourism Increase the number of jobs in tourism � � Extend countryside access Extend countryside access � � Develop new product and activity packages Develop new product and activity packages � � Create opportunities for the two communities Create opportunities for the two communities � to work together to achieve these targets to work together to achieve these targets
ACHIEVING THESE OBJECTIVES ACHIEVING THESE OBJECTIVES � Improving and developing accommodation Improving and developing accommodation � � Creation of activity packages Creation of activity packages � � Upgrading angling facilities Upgrading angling facilities – – Ghille course Ghille course � � Developing cycling routes Developing cycling routes � � Developing scenic routes Developing scenic routes � � Supporting local festivals Supporting local festivals � � Use Use of effective of effective marketing campaigns marketing campaigns �
GOVERNANCE OF NRRTI GOVERNANCE OF NRRTI � Assess and recommend schemes for award to Assess and recommend schemes for award to � DARD DARD � Monitor projects and maintain the database and Monitor projects and maintain the database and � audit trail audit trail � Process claims Process claims � � Carry out post project evaluation and monitoring Carry out post project evaluation and monitoring � against the projects’ ’ original criteria original criteria against the projects � Chase for spend Chase for spend – – Project ends DEC 2006! Project ends DEC 2006! �
IMPACT TO DATE IMPACT TO DATE Increased spend 66% 2004 v 2005 Increased no. days stayed by 4% 2004 v 2005 Increased no. of nights stayed by 21% 2004 v 2005 90% of visitors believe that their trip to the Sperrins is good VFM
North Sperrins Scenic Route East Sperrins Scenic Route Central and South Sperrins Scenic Routes
Sperrins Hill Walking Festival – NRRTI Supported
Development of 12 circular cycle routes Installation of signage for those routes Production of guides and supporting marketing activity
Model Village, Moneymore Improvements supported through NRRTI
Woodfest at the Ulster American Folk Park One of the 22 local festivals and cultural events supported through NRRTI
Learmount Forest, Park Village NRRTI project
Sperrins Ballooning Festival NRRTI project
4 Angling Projects supported Through NRRTI
CONCLUSION CONCLUSION � NRRTI has had a significant and visible impact in NRRTI has had a significant and visible impact in � developing and marketing the Sperrins base tourism developing and marketing the Sperrins base tourism product product st December 2006 and all � The scheme ends 31 The scheme ends 31 st December 2006 and all � allocated monies must have been spent by then allocated monies must have been spent by then � STL will continue to work with the industry and our STL will continue to work with the industry and our � funding partners to develop and market the Sperrins funding partners to develop and market the Sperrins on the solid foundation laid down by the NRRTI on the solid foundation laid down by the NRRTI project. project. � More funding is needed to build on the current More funding is needed to build on the current � successes. successes. WWW.SPERRINSTOURISM.COM
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