Developing Tourism in Galway
TOURISM Jobs & Revenue*
Tourism delivered €10bn in expenditure between the overseas and domestic markets
*Based on 2023 CSO figures.
It is estimated that tourism industries accounted for
227,000 jobs nationwide
Domestic Marketing
At Fáilte Ireland, our marketing aims to inspire domestic tourism by encouraging short breaks in Ireland, with a goal to boost year-round tourism revenue spread across the country. Our Keep Discovering domestic campaign is the cornerstone of our consumer marketing strategy, promoting regions to visitors from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland through various high reach channels including TV, video-on-demand, digital, media partnerships and an extensive PR and Influencer plan.
Additionally, our sponsorship of RTÉ Weather reaches 1.6 million people on average 8 times per week, providing a great platform to deliver timely, relevant and compelling messages to encourage viewers to Keep Discovering Ireland all year round.
Tourism generates €2.9bn in exchequer revenue - the equivalent of €1,600 per household
Fáilte Ireland’s Champions Programme
Fáilte Ireland’s Champions Programme is designed to help tourism businesses enhance their team’s customer service skills and build local product knowledge. The programme is tailored to each of our regional experience brands (Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin) combining our successful Local Experts and Service Excellence programmes, with specialised training in accessible tourism. Frontline tourism professionals and anyone who engages with visitors, are invited to register for one of our free Champions Programme workshops. For more info on upcoming workshops see https://www.failteireland.ie/Product-development/champions-programme.aspx
Driving Climate Action for Tourism Businesses
Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing tourism businesses today. Fáilte Irelands Climate Action Programme is delivered by Fáilte Ireland and a team of sustainability advisors who will mentor and guide businesses over a three-year period providing hands-on support and investment advice for tourism businesses aiming to become more sustainable and will help drive real change in businesses.
In line with government targets, the Programme will focus on reducing carbon emissions and saving money, along with broader areas like energy and waste management, water consumption, renewables, and biodiversity. More information on the Climate Action Programme can be found at https://supports.failteireland.ie/climate-action/
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism
Fáilte Ireland’s ambition is to support all tourism businesses improve their inclusive offerings and ensure that destinations, products, and services are accessible to all. Our 2025 plans focus on raising awareness of accessibility and inclusion, building capacity, and offering more choices for all.
We embrace the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’ to make Ireland a leading accessible and inclusive destination. Together, we can create welcoming tourism experiences that enhance our communities as great places to visit and live.
For more information please visit: https://www.failteireland.ie/Development-menu-item/ Accessible-and-Inclusive-Tourism.aspx
Building excellent employment
Since Fáilte Ireland launched its Employer Excellence Programme in 2022, 30,000 employees and 300 businesses across the tourism sector have benefited from the programme. This three-year programme enhances retention, reward recognition, and communication. Additionally, the programme offers benefits such as top-tier people management training, access to an employee survey provider, expert HR advice, and the opportunity to be acknowledged as an Excellent Employer at our annual awards.
To support businesses to upskill new and existing employees, Fáilte Ireland launched learniFI, an online learning platform to drive professional development with over 250 tailored courses and dynamic live learning sessions across key business disciplines including HR, Finance and Climate Action. To help build the future pipeline of talent, the Fáilte Ireland Work Experience Programme connects Transition Year students with local tourism businesses, providing work experience and helping build a future talent pipeline. For more information, visit www.failteireland.ie/tourismcareers
DEVELOPMENT IN GALWAY
Regional Tourism Strategy for Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Galway is included in Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Regional Tourism Development Strategies 2023 - 2027. The strategies are a roadmap for the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in tourism in the region will help navigate the current challenges and steer a course towards a sustainable recovery and continued success. These plans set out a strategic approach to unlocking the commercial potential of Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. They will ensure focus on tourism development is sustainable and regenerative and that the benefits accrue to local communities and to nature. By capitalising on the uniqueness of each brand they set a clear path ahead for the development of new and enhanced visitor experiences, building greater capacity and capability into the industry, and provide a clear strategy for attracting visitors that will stay longer and spend more.
Destination and Experience Development Plans
Destination and Experience Development Plans (DEDPs) are 5-year sustainable tourism development plans for a destination, which bring public and private sector organisations together to prioritise tourism development projects and maximise their chance for success. Fáilte Ireland is currently developing a number of Destination Development Plans for Galway under the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brands, including:
• The Connemara & Islands DEDP, launched in February 2018 and is in advanced activation stage.
• The Galway City DEDP is due to be launched in 2025.
• The East Galway DEDP is due to be prepared in 2025.
• The Lough Derg Visitor Experience Development Plan (IHH).
Gaeilge agus Fáilte
Fáilte Ireland has launched an exciting new initiative called Gaeilge agus Fáilte, aimed at promoting the Irish language through a pilot scheme. This initiative focuses on creating new content and promotional campaigns for businesses in Gaeltacht regions, where the Irish language is an integral part of the tourism experience. By highlighting these businesses, the scheme aims to attract visitors interested in Ireland’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. This effort supports local economies and fosters a deeper appreciation of the Irish language and its role in the country’s cultural identity.
10 Years of The Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way, the hugely successful tourism brand developed by Fáilte Ireland in response to the global financial crash, was launched to the tourism industry at Meitheal in 2014, and over the last decade has become a globally recognised tourism brand and has provided an economic engine for the west of Ireland.
According to a new report launched in 2024, nearly 2 million more visitors visited the Wild Atlantic Way in 2023 compared with 2013. Tourism is now worth €3billion per year on the Wild Atlantic Way, an increase of 59% on 2013, and this growth has contributed to the creation of an additional 35,000 jobs, with tourism now supporting 121,000 jobs across the region.
€3 billion
Investment in Galway
EU Just Transition Fund
As Ireland moves towards a low-carbon economy, Fáilte Ireland is delivering a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands* 2023-2026 as part of the EU Just Transition Fund programme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Through this scheme, we are investing in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities. The Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands 2023-2026 is currently being delivered through a series of funding calls. Further information is available: https://www.failteireland.ie/JustTransition *Laois, Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, Roscommon and parts of Galway (Ballinasloe), Tipperary (Carrick-on-Suir, Thurles) and Kildare (Athy, Clane - Maynooth). Note: Fáilte Ireland has no responsibility in territorial selection or designation.
Platforms for Growth Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme
€1 million investment allocated across five projects to facilitate the development of gala dinner venues of scale in four of Ireland’s business events hubs - Dublin, Kerry, the Shannon Region and Galway.
• Claregalway Castle, Galway
• Custom House Quarter Ltd., Dublin
• Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick
Large Capital Grant Scheme
• Galway Museum, Galway City Total project Value: €11.7m. Fáilte Ireland investment = €6.6m.
Grantee: Galway City Council.
• Connaught Harbour Redevelopment (Waterways Ireland) €1.35m
Connemara National Park
• Killarney Brewing & Distilling Visitors Experience Limited, Kerry
• St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway
• Kylemore Abbey & Gardens Upgrade: €1.7m
Strategic Partnership - OPW
• Inis Mór, Arainn (OPW). Total Project Value: €600k. Fáilte Ireland investment = €450k
The Connemara National Park Trails Project: This project is a strategic partnership initiative between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Fáilte Ireland.
Platform For Growth (2) - Facilities Centres for Water Based Activities
Terryland River Corrib - River Facilities
These best-in-class facilities will help extend the outdoor tourism season by providing year-round hot showers, changing rooms, toilets, secure storage, induction spaces, and equipment washdown areas. Accessibility and sustainability will be key focus points for the project, ensuring full wheelchair access and the installation of solar heating panels. It will also feature a Changing Places facility along with an accessible toilet.
Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta
Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta (ÚnaG) in partnership with Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teo in Co. Galway have announced funding to develop a new visitor centre on Árainn. Through interactive exhibits and detailed presentations, the Place of Stone Visitor Centre aims to enhance the appreciation of Árainn’s unique heritage, driving visitor interest and supporting the local community by extending the tourism season and increasing economic opportunities.
Árainn (Inis Mór) Co. Galway - €3 million - Árainn - Place of Stone Visitor Centre
Festivals and Events
Festivals and events are a vital component of the visitor experience for local, domestic and international audience. Fáilte Ireland has identified tourism focused festivals and events as a key driver for tourism growth, particularly in the off-season. Festivals and participative events serve to increase both awareness of and dwell time in the destination, while also adding variety and diversity to the area. Investment in and business development support for festivals is helping to drive growth in the regions and draw both domestic and overseas visitors to different parts of the country in the off-peak season. Fáilte Ireland provides funding for local and community festivals through its ‘Regional Festivals Programme’, which has been managed by Local Authorities since 2018. In addition to this Fáilte Ireland’s own Strategic Festivals Fund supports over 40 Festivals and Participative Events with a tourism focus.
€5.6m
€1.2m
Fáilte Ireland Initiatives for Galway
Destination Towns - Clifden & Galway City
Fáilte Ireland’s Destination Towns scheme is designed to boost the attractiveness and tourism appeal of towns nationwide, and is funded under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Strategy. Fáilte Ireland allocated €461,250 in funding to Galway City Council to develop Galway City and €500,000 to Galway County Council to develop Clifden, Co. Galway under this scheme.
Urban Animation Investment Scheme
The Urban Animation scheme will see the development of a signature lighting installation at Woodquay Park featuring a hand carved steel sphere reflecting the stories and traditions of Galway.Galway City Council received funding of €1,030,834 under this scheme.
Shannon Masterplan
The Shannon Tourism Masterplan, led by Waterways Ireland with Fáilte Ireland and 10 Local Authorities, outlines a framework for sustainable tourism from 2020 to 2030. The River Shannon, its lakes and inland waterways are an integral part of the tourism offering in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. The Masterplan assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this key tourism asset in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and brings forward proposals on how to grow a sustainable domestic and international tourism destination in the Shannon Corridor which respects the nature and diversity of the environment and its people.
One of the key actions of the plan was a Feasibility Study on the Future Development and Greening of the Cruise Hire Sector undertaken to support the sector to transition towards more sustainable practices and enhance the visitor experiences along the Shannon
Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway up to 2033. Fáilte Ireland unveiled the roadmap for sustainable development of Cruise-Hire Sector in October 2024. Read the full Feasibility Study on the Future Development and Greening of the Cruise Hire Sector here https://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/ media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/Ireland’s%20 Hidden%20Heartlands/feasibility-study-on-thefuture-development.pdf
Portumna Forest Park
Fáilte Ireland continues to work closely with Coillte and Galway County Council on a sustainable development plan for the Park.
Following public consultation, the Strategic Design Plan for Portumna Forest Park has been updated and engagement with key stakeholders on the updated Plan is ongoing.
The Beara Breifne Way
The Beara Breifne Way, a 700km trail through counties Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, and Cavan, is Ireland’s largest community-based project supported by community groups and volunteers. Since 2001, it has been supported by various stakeholders, including The Heritage Council, Fáilte Ireland, and local authorities. Recognized as a Signature Visitor Experience in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, it also intersects with the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East.
Fáilte Ireland is working with public and private stakeholders to establish a governance structure for the trail, covering local, county, and national levels, aimed at sustainable development and minimal environmental impact. A finalized governance plan is expected by 2025.
The Digital that Delivers programme is a pioneering initiative designed to transform the digital capabilities of attractions, activity providers, strategically funded festivals, and tourism-focused golf courses. This two-year development programme aims to equip up to 720 businesses with essential digital tools, skills and strategies to improve their online presence. Created in response to research highlighting low adoption of digital technology in these sectors, the programme provides resources to activate and optimise booking systems, develop accessible websites, improve customer engagement, and boost sales. It supports Fáilte Ireland’s mission to attract more visitors to emerging regions and destinations.
By the end of 2026, the programme will have awarded, up to €18.4 million in investment grant-aid to businesses throughout Ireland. Fáilte Ireland predicts this investment will generate €408 million in additional economic activity over a 10-year period, supporting up to 11,000 sustainable jobs across Ireland. Powering Online Excellence
Fáilte Ireland is the National Tourism Development Authority and is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media