County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

County Kildare Walking Routes Project
any inter-county tourism committees is an example of the type of task force that could be
established to develop and promote walking in the county. The Walking Task Force would
include representatives from tourism service providers, community groups, walking clubs,
semi state bodies, state agencies, private sector companies and wealthy benefactor. The
Walking Task Force could co-ordinate promotion of walking with MERTA and Kildare
Failte, influence the national tourism spend on walking in County Kildare, liaise with Bord
na Móna, Waterways Ireland, Kildare Sports Partnership, Irish Farmers Association and
Coillte, inform the tourism service industry of developments and receive feedback and
ideas from the private sector. This is in keeping with walking initiatives in other counties
such as Co. Donegal that have appointed a walking officer, Co. Waterford, that have a
walking strategy and Co. Cork that has established a walking forum.
5.1 Recommended Promotional Activities
The recommended activities to be addressed to meet the stated objectives are:
a) Advertising. The walking routes in Kildare are currently advertised by Kildare Failte,
East Coast and Midlands of Ireland Regional Tourism Authority, The Irish Sports
Council, The Kildare Sports Partnership, The Irish Heart Foundation, Coillte,
Waterways Ireland and others. There is a growing awareness of Kildare’s walking
routes in the international and national tourism market. There is a growing local
awareness of walking routes in Kildare. However, the capacity to deliver what is
expected on the ground in terms of signage and services is sometimes disappointing
to the intending walker. An example of an advertising campaign would be to promote
all the walks along the Arrow commuter train route by train advertisements and
distribution to passengers of canal tow path walking route guides at the train stations.
b) Sponsorship by the private sector and semi state bodies has the capacity to deliver
more advertising and improved delivery of services. The Tourism Strategy Group
could work with potential private sector sponsors who have significant commercial
activities in the county to identify well developed walking routes with significant
community involvement. These routes may require some upgrading in signage and
facilities that sponsors could integrate into environmental management and
community support activities.
c) Event Management. Kildare County Council regularly sponsors events. Other
funding agencies such as KELT also sponsor events. Co-ordinated advice and
assistance with the management and hosting of walking events should be part of the
development plan. Events such as Feile Bríd, National Heritage Week and 9/11 at
Donadea are examples of events that can be linked to walking route promotion.
However, the balance between successful event and environmental impact at
sensitive heritage sites should be considered.
d) Media Management. Continuous pro active media management through press
briefings, development of relationship with key tourism correspondents and
journalists, press visits to sites and press launches of walking initiatives is required.
The publishing of articles in newspapers, trade journals, in-flight magazines and
radio and TV interviews on walking in County Kildare is the most effective form of
advertising.
CSA Project 3419 11