It’s been 10 weeks since Sligo Walks launched the new website, video and illustrated maps, and the feedback from the public has been hugely positive. More and more people are engaging with us through social media, the walks are being promoted more broadly, and several new walking groups have come on stream, encouraging people to remain healthy as well as enjoying the wonderful scenery that lies on our doorstep.
With Sligo planning to further develop our walking infrastructure and promotional campaign into the new year, it’s important that those involved in tourism initiatives within the county engage with us further. Tourism employs many hundreds of people in Sligo, and for some of you, this will involve walking, either directly or indirectly. For example, those involved in the hotel, self-catering or bed & breakfast sector will have visitors who want to explore Sligo while they are here. If so, we’d like to know what your guests want from this experience, whether there are walks in particular they go on, and what their reaction to walking in Sligo is.
In addition, there are promotional supports we can offer free of charge, from the promotion of walks close to you, through to the provision of pocket maps, and to the development of new walks and amenities.
Sligo is ideally positioned along the Wild Atlantic Way, and is bookended by Donegal and Mayo, 2 counties that have been successful in developing products that have positioned them in a strong position in terms of attracting tourists. A great opportunity awaits for Sligo to do the same. We have a shorter coastline and fewer beaches, but we do have some major strengths.
Sligo town is located centrally within the county, which means that visitors here will only have a short trip to take to access any of our walks or other tourism amenities. We have highlights like Strandhill and Rosses Point within minutes of town, as well as iconic cultural and archaeological locations, also within easy reach. But to serve the county as a whole, we need a collaborative approach that will encourage us to move forward with one voice, and enable us to access funding and promotional opportunities.
There are others we’d also like to hear from. Increasing numbers of tour operators and other providers are working within the walking area, and these include organizations who provide guided walks to visitors, as well as broader outdoor experiences which are part of Sligo’s appeal as a great outdoor destination. If you are working in this area, we’d also like to hear from you at SligoWalks.ie.
If we can encourage people to provide feedback to us via news@sligowalks.ie, we will endeavour to work together in the development of the walking experience in the county.
This co-operative approach should ensure that future plans for Sligo will target dedicated growth areas, will create a unified message in terms of creating brand awareness and promotion, and should help everyone involved in the sector to develop and grow.
And working together with our partners, Sligo County Council, Coillte, Sligo Sport & Recreation Partnership, Sligo Local Enterprise Office, Leader, Sligo Tourism, Fáilte Ireland and others, we aim to develop Sligo into a walking destination which will have both broad appeal and exposure to markets both home and abroad, but we do need to communicate with each other in relation to how we develop in the coming years.
Meanwhile, SligoWalks.ie in conjunction with the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo, want to offer 2 lucky readers a luxury stay at the hotel in the new year. Along with a host of other extras, the competition continues throughout this week on the Sligo Walks Facebook page.
And in other news, there are plans to run a Spring Walking Series in Sligo in the early months of 2018. Next week we will bring you more details on this as well as news on some of the wonderful walks you can take as the holiday season starts to come into view!
For contact details on all walking activities in Sligo, visit our website, and if you have a walking group and would like to promote your events free of charge, or look for new members, contact us on news@sligowalks.ie.