Tourism must have joined up approach

Tourism must have joined up approach

10 May 2017

TOURISM officials have been urged to devise a plan to “fully develop” South Down’s historic buildings and boost visitor numbers across the constituency.

SDLP South Down Westminster election candidate Margaret Ritchie is confident the area’s rich built heritage can play a pivotal role in helping boost visitor numbers and hopes tourism bodies and other agencies will weigh in with their full support.

She argues tourism bodies need to move away from what she described as a “disjointed approach” to ensure the South Down economy continues to develop and grow and there needs to be an acceptance from bosses that whilst much has been done, they could and should do more in respect of the constituency.

Last year, Miss Ritchie severely criticised Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s new tourism strategy for dumbing down the key contribution the St Patrick story makes to the area and the potential for its future development.

In a damning assessment of the local authority’s tourism blueprint, she said the document represented 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.

Looking to the future, Miss Ritchie said South Down needs a properly structured tourism agenda in order that it can realise the huge tourism attraction opportunities the area has on its doorstep.

She continued: “Much has been done at a local level to develop the unique links the area has with St Patrick but, in some ways, we have to address the perception that the legacy of the Patron Saint was still undervalued in terms of promotional investment. Much more needs to be done by the tourism agencies and Newry, Mourne and Down Council.”

The Westminster candidate said the potential of the local tourism heritage must be fulfilled given that a recent government study demonstrated that for every one pound spent on heritage tourism, there is a £6 economic return.

“In relative terms, castles at Dundrum, Greencastle, Narrow Water and the Round Tower at Maghera are important parts of the local tourism heritage. In some cases, they need to be more accessible to the public and to be better promoted. These are spectacular examples of medieval architecture and life but need to be showcased and promoted as some of the ‘must visit’ destinations in South Down.

“Tourism continues to be the bedrock of our economy, but it needs to be constantly placed to the forefront in promotional terms, both on international and local levels. Across South Down we are blessed with a tremendous amount of historically important buildings which must be open and accessible to all.”

Miss Ritchie said the various locations provide a symbolic back to the area’s magnificent scenery and that in other parts of Ireland and indeed across Europe, the importance of centuries old legacy would be recognised for the value it could add to any economy. 

She added: “There is a need for a co-ordinated tourism strategy involving the local council, Environment Agency, Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI to bring all the required ingredients together to increase the wealth of the people of South Down. We have unrivalled natural resources which must be utilised for the good of our tourism industry and I will be pushing to ensure a plan is put in place to develop the historic built heritage of the South Down area.”