County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie
County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie
County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie
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<strong>County</strong> <strong>Kildare</strong> <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Routes</strong> <strong>Project</strong><br />
e) Periodic market research and dissemination of results is useful to target promotion<br />
and advertising and measure the success of the promotional strategy. Involving third<br />
level institutes (e.g. NUI Maynooth) is a cost effective way of ach<strong>ie</strong>ving results.<br />
f) The continuous updating of information on walking in <strong>Kildare</strong> on national and<br />
regional websites, both public and private, is required. <strong>Kildare</strong> walks do not currently<br />
appear on many of these sites (for example <strong>Kildare</strong> heritage towns do not appear on<br />
http://www.heritageisland.com/visitor_attractions.asp.) This could be addressed by IT<br />
administrative assistance to the tourism development officer, who could also forward<br />
uploads of relevant information to Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, walking sites etc.<br />
g) Information Leaflets. There are a very significant number of publications and<br />
brochures on walking routes in <strong>Kildare</strong>. Many of these are out of print. A rev<strong>ie</strong>w of<br />
existing material and their effectiveness and a plan to update and reprint earl<strong>ie</strong>r<br />
publications should be considered. For example an update and reprint of “Towpath<br />
Trails – A Walkers Guide to the Canal Towpaths of <strong>County</strong> <strong>Kildare</strong>” originally<br />
produced by <strong>County</strong> <strong>Kildare</strong> Vocational Education Committee and Cospóir is an<br />
ach<strong>ie</strong>vable first step that will introduce these walks to an influx of new residents in<br />
North <strong>Kildare</strong> who are looking for walking routes in their area. Information leaflets<br />
and walking guides could be distributed through petrol filling stations, hotels,<br />
guesthouses and tourist information centres, as well as through schools and<br />
colleges.<br />
h) Standardisation of the <strong>Walking</strong> product/service. The National Waymarked Ways<br />
Advisory Council has established national guidelines that effectively deliver a<br />
recognisable brand for walking trails anywhere in Ireland. <strong>Kildare</strong> <strong>County</strong> Council<br />
should adopt this “brand” in planning guidelines and advice to walking route<br />
development in the county and make it a condition of funding support. A<br />
standardised Heritage Town Walk map, guide and signage would increase the<br />
attractiveness of these routes to visitors.<br />
i) Joint Promotional Activit<strong>ie</strong>s. <strong>Kildare</strong> <strong>County</strong> Council will be informed of planned<br />
activit<strong>ie</strong>s by Bord na Móna, <strong>Kildare</strong> Sports Partnership, Waterways Ireland, Coillte,<br />
MERTA and private tourism sector service providers through the Tourism Strategy<br />
Group. Where appropriate <strong>Kildare</strong> <strong>County</strong> Council can choose to contribute and/or<br />
mange joint promotional activit<strong>ie</strong>s to ach<strong>ie</strong>ve maximum impact. <strong>Kildare</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Council could co-operate with the <strong>Kildare</strong> Sports Partnership to develop heritage<br />
aspects of the Slí na Sláinte routes. The leaders could include heritage appreciation<br />
in their training schedule with new walkers.A joint promotion with a petrol distribution<br />
company, for example, could include support for the production of county walking<br />
guides with distribution from filling stations in <strong>County</strong> <strong>Kildare</strong> to reach a nontraditional<br />
walking aud<strong>ie</strong>nce.<br />
j) Promotion of Heritage. <strong>Kildare</strong> <strong>County</strong> Council could build on the above activit<strong>ie</strong>s<br />
by forming a stronger alliance with the Heritage Council to promote the unique built<br />
and natural heritage of <strong>County</strong> <strong>Kildare</strong>. Significant strides have been made to<br />
ach<strong>ie</strong>ve this through the office of Heritage Officer. However, new walking routes<br />
such as Pilgrim routes linked to the cult of Brigid (Dara) could be initiated and The<br />
CSA <strong>Project</strong> 3419 12