Tourism officers from all around Ireland, representing every county in the country gathered at Killashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare today, (19th of April) for the inaugural meeting of the Tourism Officer Network. This historic meeting of tourism officers from all the County Council Managed Authorities (CCMA) marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to promote cross-council tourism initiatives and share ideas for the benefit of the tourism and hospitality industry.
The brainchild of Leitrim Tourism Officer, Sinead McDermott, and Áine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare, the Tourism Officer Network aims to provide a forum for collaboration, information sharing, and feedback contribution to the CCMA Business, Enterprise, Tourism, Innovation, and Urban/Town Renewal (BETIUER) Committee. The establishment of this network underscores the commitment of tourism officers and its partners to enhance the tourism sector and drive economic growth throughout Ireland.
At the inaugural meeting, held following the National Tourism Meeting, the terms of reference for the Tourism Officer Network were outlined. The network offers tourism officers the opportunity to share best practices, information, and experiences to enhance the performance of tourism functions within local authorities.
Members will also collaborate with the CCMA BETIUER Committee groups, serving as a discussion forum for tourism-related initiatives and proposals. The group will meet at least three times a year, with members committing to attending and participating in activities.
The membership in the network is open to nominated tourism officers in each local authority in the country, as well as companies operating joint agreements with their local authorities for tourism marketing and development. The network will be led by a Chair and Deputy Chair, with Áine Mangan chairing the first meeting.
Áine Mangan said, “The idea for this network started out with Into Kildare hosting a tourism ambassador’s trip to County Kildare and followed when several of us met at Meitheal in 2023. We discussed how best to progress a network to share ideas and to give a strong voice to tourism in Ireland. Tourism is worth over €13.5 billion annually to Ireland and is vital to our economy. We know that by working together we are stronger, and we can compete for tourism business internationally. It’s very exciting and we are delighted with the support given to us by our partners and colleagues at the various County Councils and from both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.”
Speaking about the establishment of the Tourism Officer Network, Sinead McDermott expressed her excitement for the potential of collaboration among county tourism representatives. “This network represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to promote tourism and drive economic development. By working together, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to enhance the visitor experience and showcase the beauty and wonderful hospitality of our magnificent country”.
For more information about the Tourism Officer Network and its initiatives, please contact Áine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare. aine@intokildare.ie or see www.into.kildare.ie
