- Fáilte Ireland launched its Greenways Culinary Tourism Development Programme.
- The event took place at The Village Barn in Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath.
- The programme covers the Royal Canal, Old Rail Trail, Grand Canal and Midlands Trail Network.
- The initiative aims to connect local food businesses with greenway travellers.
- It aligns with the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands strategy for interconnected trails.
Fáilte Ireland has launched its Greenways Culinary Tourism Development Programme with an event at The Village Barn in Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath. Food and drink producers, tourism businesses and industry stakeholders explored ways to enhance the visitor experience along the Royal Canal Greenway, Old Rail Trail Greenway, Grand Canal Greenway and the emerging Midlands Trail Network. The initiative aims to connect local food and drink offerings with greenway travellers and encourage longer stays.
Attendees heard from industry speakers and tourism businesses who shared practical insights on developing food and drink experiences for the tourism market. The programme examined opportunities to better connect local food and drink businesses with visitors travelling the greenways. It aligns with the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands strategy for interconnected trails that disperse visitors and create destination hubs.
Greenways are an important part of Ireland’s tourism offering and have brought benefits to local communities and visitors. The Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Regional Tourism Development Strategy envisages a lattice-work of interconnected trails, greenways and blueways across the region. The programme looks to optimise these opportunities and build the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to maximise the revenue opportunity of the growing greenway market.
