elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 8: Recreation, Leisure and Tourism
Programme, Tidy Towns Initiative and enforcement of the Derelict Sites Act. Tourist developments have
a special role in revitalizing towns and villages such as Elphin, and Roscommon County Council supports
the development of appropriate tourist accommodation in existing town and villages throughout the
County.
Policies in relation to Tourist Accommodation
Policy 123
Policy 124
Policy 125
Encourage tourism in the town through the effective location of tourist accommodation.
Ensure, in all tourism related development, high standards of design and landscaping,
with consideration given to the impact of the proposal on its surroundings in terms of
scale and intensity.
All tourist development should be designed for and take particular consideration of the
needs of the disabled and the elderly.
8.5.2 Tourism Signage
Tourist signage is important with regard to the development of tourism in Elphin. Tourism potential in the
town could be aided significantly by the production of a comprehensive tourist map and the introduction
of information boards at all heritage sites indicating important local as well as countywide sites. Uniform
signage with one clear design format and a unique county logo, like the familiar Fáilte Ireland shamrock
logo, should be produced and marketed at home and abroad.
Tour organizers and locally approved guides should be considered the ‘gatekeepers’ 4 of local amenities.
Roscommon County Council encourages the recruitment of local tour guides and establishing trails. The
Council supports the development of a permanent designated tourist office in Roscommon Town and the
production of travel itineraries to guide visitors around towns such as Elphin. Many tourists use the
Internet to gather holiday information and the updating and upgrading of existing tourism websites for the
County should be a priority.
Policy in relation to Tourism Signage
Policy 126
Encourage and support the improvement of access, signage and tourist information
services including integrated welcome, directional and interpretative signage.
8.5.3 Sustainable Tourism
In pursuit of sustainable tourism it is imperative that the high quality landscape and environment which
attracts visitors to Roscommon is undiminished by future development. A high quality product must be
developed in harmony with a high quality natural environment, minimising adverse impacts upon local
communities, built heritage, landscapes, habitats and species. Tourism related enterprises should be
encouraged to reduce their impact upon the environment by reducing their energy demand, increasing
recycling and utilising best practice procurement policy.
Policies in relation to Sustainable Tourism
Policy 127
Support best practice environmental management including energy efficiency, waste
management, procurement and recycling in accommodation providers and tourism
enterprises in the County, through the use of accreditation and eco-labelling
4 Teagasc-Integrated rural tourism development in the west of Ireland: Learning from tourists and tour organisers
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 79