Some Interesting Facts...

Walking is by far the biggest activity-based tourism activity in Ireland, attracting 743,000 overseas visitors, four times more than golf, which is the second largest activity. (Fáilte Ireland, 2012)

According to a recent estimate, Scotland generates £1.4bn from nature-based tourism (Bryden, Westbrook, Burns , Taylor , & Anderson, 2010).

By 2015 walking tourism is projected to account for 22pc of Scotland’s tourism revenue. (Tourism Intelligence Scotland)

Evidence from Fife in Scotland shows that the Fife Coastal Path contributes between €24m and €29m to the local economy, supporting the equivalent of 800-900 full time jobs. (TNS Travel and Tourism & SQW, 2006)

Based on this data and similar case studies, we estimate that if Irish land access laws are similarly modernised, hundreds of jobs could be created in the tourism sector in the medium term.

Walking is by far the largest activity-based form of tourism in Ireland – attracting projected to account for 22% of Scotland’s tourism revenue. (Tourism Intelligence Scotland) Evidence from Fife in Scotland shows that the Fife Coastal Path contributes between €24m and €29m to the local economy, supporting the equivalent of 800-900 full time jobs. (TNS Travel and Tourism & SQW, 2006)

Based on this data and similar case studies, we estimate that if Irish land access laws are similarly modernised, hundreds of jobs could be created in the tourism sector in the medium term.

Surveys suggest that Ireland’s scenery is a huge draw for overseas visitors to Ireland, but much of it remains inaccessible. (Fáilte Ireland , 2010) (Buckley, Hynes, & van Rensburg, 2008)

Contrary to common perceptions, hikers and walkers spend significant amounts: the average spend per person among hikers and walkers in 2011 was €873. (Fáilte Ireland, 2012)

As landowners have discretion to deny access, a wide network of well-documented walking routes has not been established. Many walking routes are on roads rather than land and lack of signage leaves tourists confused about where they are allowed to walk. Taking these factors combined, Ireland currently offers a walking tourism product which is significantly inferior to that of Scotland, England and Wales. (URS Scott Wilson, 2012)

Physical inactivity costs the Irish exchequer €1.6 billion per year. (Cullen, 2010) Changing the land access laws could help to reduce these costs by increasing recreational walking.

 

Referenced from 'Open for Jobs – the case for modernizing Ireland’s land access law'.

 

 

If you build it...

That demand for access to the countryside has never been greater is not in question. Wherever access is made possible, where an attractive piece or countryside is opened, or a corridor through the country is made available, then people will flock to it.

That thought struck me when we recently visited the Newry Canal Trail at Scarva. Walkers, runners, and cyclists were out in there hundreds enjoying the canal towpath. As a result, the cafe at Scarva Visitor's Centre was doing a roaring trade.

One has to ask would it be doing such great business if the canal trail was not there to attract all those people in the first place? Not likely. And one can only wonder what other economic opportunities are being missed out on where such access to the countryside does not exist.

An idea whose time has come...

Well done to Robert Dowds, TD. The logic of the argument is unquestionable.

http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-06-14a.5

Devon Coast to Coast

We're just back from walking the devon Coast to Coast walk. Starting at Wembury Beach in South Devon and finishing at Lynmouth on the north coast, its a great walk incorporating as it does the Two Moors Way and the Erme-Plym Trail (the first day of walking and the bit that links the south coast to the start of the Two Moors Way at Ivybridge). It took us 6 days, averaging around 16 or 17 miles per day. Some days were longer than others of course, and the last day came in at around 19.

The countryside is amazing of course, expecially Dartmoor and Exmoor. What's also amazing, for someone who lives in Northern Ireland at any rate, is the fact that the countryside is just so accessible. So many paths, so much open country where you are free to just roam, safe in the knowledge that you have the right to do so. It is little wonder that activity tourism generates so much money for the local economy. All the way along the Coast to Coast trail a thriving tourist trade has developed. B&Bs, country farm house accommodation, taxi services, luggage transfer, package tour operators, all only really exist because the trail exists in the first place.

The lack of political will to improve the access situation in Northern Ireland continues to inhibit such economic opportunities for similar rural communities here.