Fáilte Ireland has opened applications from eligible towns across the country for the 2014 Tourism Towns Award – eligible towns are those ranked in the top 100 TidyTowns for 2013 and the closing date for applications is Thursday 22nd May 2014.
The award, now in its third year, is all about recognising Irish towns and villages where the local community goes the extra mile to enhance their appeal to tourists. Last year Kilkenny took home the overall crown with Portmagee the inaugural award in 2012.
Officially opening the call for applications, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring said –
“This award is all about recognising Irish towns and villages which have really gone the extra mile to make Ireland even more attractive for tourists. Tourism isn’t just a business, it’s a community industry and that’s why the whole community has a role in supporting tourism. I would encourage all the eligible towns to apply this year and look forward to hearing the overall winners later in the year.”
The award will continue to focus on how participating towns have developed their local area in the following key tourism areas:
Sense of Place – How the town tells its own unique story to visitors, what’s special about it, and what distinguishes it from other towns. Local Involvement - How the local community works together to provide an authentic visitor experience.Tourism Experiences – What the town has to offer visitors.Promotion of the town – How the town takes a unified approach to marketing and promoting the town into a “tourism town”.
