Welcoming business in West Cork!

FÁILTE Ireland is delighted to again sponsor the ‘Best West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Business’ Award in the West Cork Business and Tourism Awards 2022.

The ‘Best West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Business’ is awarded by the judges to a tourism business that brings the Wild Atlantic Way regional experience brand to life, offers an authentic experience and continually innovates their tourism offering in a sustainable way to attract more visitors to West Cork throughout the year.

Stretching 2,500km from Kinsale in West Cork to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal touring route in the world and has become a household name in Ireland since it was launched by Fáilte Ireland in 2014. The Wild Atlantic Way was designed to celebrate our rugged coastal landscape and reposition the West Coast of Ireland as a compelling and unique holiday experience and with so much to offer. From stunning landscapes to excellent food, West Cork is the perfect place to start or end a journey along the route.

In early 2023, Fáilte Ireland will be launching the West Cork and Kenmare Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP). The development of this 5-year plan provides a shared vision and clear direction towards improved development, strengthening and promotion of the area’s unique features by growing the destination’s market share through the delivery of catalyst projects and hero experiences that seek to maximise the key strengths of the area. This will be achieved by targeting domestic and international visitors who will stay longer in the region, spend more and/or who will arrive in off-peak periods.

The West Cork coast transitions along the way from gentle and lush to being more rugged, from vibrant towns to more remote rural villages and open countryside. This area, at the start or end of your Wild Atlantic Way journey requires time to explore its back roads and by ways and to take in the alluring lifestyle of the islands and the Gaeltacht areas. It offers an intimate encounter with the land, the coast and its people. It is about helping the visitor to slow a little – to take time to discover how the layers of history have shaped and enriched the region. The success of the Wild Atlantic Way is very much testament to the strong partnership we have with local industry and this award will recognise the outstanding achievements of a tourism business that is striving to embody the Wild Atlantic Way brand.

Fáilte Ireland provides a range of supports for businesses from tailored development programmes to useful research market insights, templates and check lists. Check out www. failteireland.ie or get in touch with the Wild Atlantic Way team to find out how we can support your business.

– Josephine O’Driscoll Wild Atlantic Way Manager for West Cork at Fáilte Ireland