Councillor calls for greater investment in tourism

Hyland calls for greater investment in tourism infrastructure


Anton McNulty

A WESTPORT councillor has called for greater investment into tourism and questioned the cost of each job created by the Great Western Greenway in comparison to jobs created by state agencies such as the IDA.
It is estimated that between 80 and 110 full-time and part-time jobs have been created between Achill and Westport as a result of the Great Western Greenway opening in 2010. The 42km route follows the line of the old railway and an estimated 300 people cycle and walk the trail each day, which was constructed at a cost of €3million.
Westport-based Independent councillor Christy Hyland commented that Westport was ‘black with people’ over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend with hundreds of people using the Greenway. He called for the Greenway to be extended further and said investment in tourism will create indigenous and sustainable employment.
“The Greenway has proved to be a huge success and has created between 80 and 110 jobs between Achill and Westport. A number of cottage industries have built up around the Greenway and they are indigenous and are more sustainable and permanent. It would be interesting to compare the amount of money the IDA and other state agencies spend to create one job to the cost of jobs created by the Greenway. I am not saying the IDA is not providing value for money in terms of job creation but I feel the better value is in tourism,” he told The Mayo News.
At last week’s monthly meeting of the West Mayo Municipal Area, Council officials gave a presentation on the Greenway and hoped to link the existing Greenway with Louisburgh and Leenane to the south and Belmullet to the north.
Cllr Hyland called for the money to be provided to invest in the extension of the Greenway saying it has shown it is a success and does create employment in the tourism sector.
“Tourism is the way forward in this county and would call on the government to provide the money for the construction of more Greenways. Westport was very busy over the weekend and that can be attributed to the Greenway,” he said.

New series
Meanwhile, a new ITV series on the Wild Atlantic Way, fronted by TV star Christine Bleakley, expects to reach up to 15 million people over its six-week run. The show, ‘Wild Ireland’ is targeted at British viewers, and follows Bleakley as she drives, cycles, hikes, swims and kayaks her way from Malin to Mizen Head.
The show is produced by Newry-based Big Mountain Productions but supported by Tourism Ireland. Filming took place last Autumn and Bleakley visited a number of landmarks in Mayo along her journey down the west coast.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it would help to boost British tourist numbers visiting Ireland: “The Wild Atlantic Way is 2,500km of the most captivating coastal scenery you will ever lay eyes on, which is why it is attracting visitors from far and wide. The potential tourism benefit for the rural communities living along our rugged western seaboard is endless and I hope those who tune in to ‘Wild Ireland’ will be inspired to come and explore the area for themselves.”
The six 30-minute episodes will air on UTV Ireland as well as on ITV in Britain and the first broadcast will be on Wednesday, April 15 at 9pm.