Tourism proposal showcased at Italian conference

Tourism proposal showcased at Italian conference

26 September 2018

PROPOSALS to secure a world renowned tourism designation for an area stretching from Strangford Lough to South Armagh were outlined to 800 delegates at a prestigious international conference in Italy recently.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council is seeking prestigious UNESCO geopark status for an area taking in the Mournes, Ring of Gullion and the Strangford and Lecale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A steering committee has been established to spearhead the bid which is in its very early stages, with the formal application to secure geopark status not expected to be submitted until November next year.

Those behind the ambitious plan insist securing geopark status is primarily about environmental sustainability and, at the same time, trying to increase economic revenue in a part of the world already revered for its stunning beauty. 

The emphasis moving forward is on partnership and engaging with local communities, with the steering group keen to talk to as many people as possible. The local council was recently represented at the eighth international conference on UNESCO global geoparks in Italy. 

Senior UNESCO officials, scientists, policy makers, government representatives and local communities from across the globe gathered at the Adamello Brento geopark to discuss sustainable development and the activities of the global geopark network. 

During the event, Newry, Mourne and Down Council and the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) presented an abstract on the proposed geopark in the Mournes area.

Local authority chairman, Mark Murnin, said the conference provided an excellent platform to share the story of the aspiring Two Oceans Geopark proposal for the local area to an international audience.

In addition, he said the event provided a chance to highlight the rich geology of the region as well as the benefits geopark status will provide to the area through geotourism.

“This was an excellent occasion which allowed us to network and exchange innovative and best practice approaches with geoparks around the world,” Cllr Murnin added.

Since March last year, the local authority’s aspiring geopark project team, in partnership with GSNI, has undertaken delivery of an intensive communications plan to spell out the proposal, while over the coming months there will be a programme of educational activities held across the council area. 

Geoparks are based around significant areas of geology and are set up to support sustainable economic development of an area, primarily through geological and eco-tourism. But they are not just about geology and include sites that are of interest for their history, archaeology, biodiversity, folklore, cultural and local heritage.

Securing the prestigious designation is one of the key planks of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s tourism strategy.

The current focus is on firming up the boundaries of the proposed geopark with those involved in compiling the UNESCO designation confident it has the potential to deliver high quality tourism in the area, increasing the number of international visitors.

The local authority is exploring the tourism potential associated with securing geopark status, with officials insisting there is a significant financial benefit for securing it, with the benefits not just economic. 

Officials believe geoparks have a significant role to play in empowering local communities and giving them the opportunities to develop cohesive partnerships with the common goal of promoting the area’s significant geological and other heritage.

There are currently 127 geoparks found in 35 countries across the world, all of which have been developed using a bottom-up approach with local communities playing a significant role in this process.

However, the global geopark brand does not impose any restrictions on farming practices, planning or development. 

Further information on the geopark proposal is available via Facebook on Geotourism in Mourne, Gullion and Strangford or for specific queries email geopark@nmandd.org.