MP savages new tourism strategy

MP savages new tourism strategy

21 December 2016

A MAJOR new tourist strategy has been severely criticised for dumbing down the contribution the St Patrick story makes to the area and the potential for its future development.

In a damning assessment of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s tourism blueprint made public last week, South Down MP Margaret Ritchie labelled the document as “superficial” and “almost ignominious” and called for major changes to be made.

Miss Ritchie said the document represents a “missed opportunity” to capture the strengths and financial value of promoting and developing opportunities presented by Patrician, early Christian and other forms of natural and built heritage in the area.

The draft strategy, which is the council’s most important policy document since it was created, proposes a major shift away from the St Patrick story towards the promotion of the natural resources of the area, such as the Mournes and forest parks and towards more adventure-based tourism.

It represents a major re-drafting of the tourist strategy for the Lecale area principally because senior council officials believe St Patrick has not delivered on the tourism front.

However, Miss Ritchie’s critical intervention will be a headache for the council, particularly after it was revealed that the consultants who drew up the strategy did not meet with the St Patrick Centre Board or it’s director.

Miss Ritchie is now seeking a meeting with the council’s chief executive, Liam Hannaway, to ensure the St Patrick story is given greater significance in the five year strategy.

In an article written for today’s Down Recorder, the MP suggested consultants who drew up the blueprint “appear to have worked in a vacuum” and not equated any real weight to the influence and impact of the patron saint on the area. 

She said the strategy must be revisited immediately with the local council “informing itself of the importance and value of heritage tourism.”

The MP said the local authority must endeavour to galvanise the opportunities and strengths presented by Patrician and early Christian heritage and continue to “awaken this sleeping giant” which she argued has the potential to transform the economic base of the community. 

The MP is also concerned the new tourism document— which aims to ensure the local council area becomes one of Ireland’s premier tourist destinations in 2019 — does not make any meaningful reference to the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick which is the world’s only dedicated centre to the patron saint.

“The new tourism document, which is in part a superficial work, documents to a great degree the value and strengths of natural resource tourism for the Mournes, the contribution and potential for development which I believe should not be in any way diminished. It is a tourism product in its own right which must be promoted,” she said.

“However, this development should not be at the expense of the promotion and development of St Patrick’s Country, early Christian heritage and general natural and built heritage which is in abundance in South Down due to it’s long historical association with the Vikings, the Normans and various other aspects of our long history.”

The MP said the new strategy “ignores” the fact that the former Department of the Environment undertook a financial evaluation of the importance of heritage tourism a few years ago with the study demonstrating beyond doubt that for every pound invested in this facet of tourism, there was a six pound economic return to that particular geographical area.

“Did the Council or its consultants give any cognisance to the outcomes in that report?” asked the MP. “What is more damning is the almost ignominious way in which the contribution of St Patrick’s Country makes to tourism in this part of South Down was treated in the tourism document.

“Acknowledgement is given to the need to develop the Patrician product, but no further elaboration is offered. Whilst it recognises that a new hotel is required for Downpatrick, the purpose of such a hotel is to accommodate the visitors in relation to our Patrician and heritage offering which is unique on the island of Ireland.”

A spokesman for Newry, Mourne and Down Council said the new tourism strategy has been developed following extensive consultation. He said one of the key critical success factors is a focus on destination experiences, telling the St Patrick Story and its wider connections are a key theme to deliver on this.  

“The strategy will build on the successful work to date around developing the product and telling the story of St Patrick. The St Patrick theme has been identified as a key strength in terms of the tourism assets which are currently available and Downpatrick as a gateway town will play a significant part in bringing the overall destination experience to life,” the spokesman continued.

He added: “To grow tourism in the district, the Council seek to work collaboratively focusing on delivering authentic visitor experiences, of which the St Patrick Story will be an integral element.”