Mr Michael Ring, Minister of State, Dept of Tourism Transport and Sport is to launch a joint trade initiative on the 25th April 2012 in The Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford, Co Louth.
Bus Éireanns ‘Dublin to Carlingford and Mourne ‘ Bus Tours will operate 2 daily services from May 1st 2012 between Dublin City and the Carlingford and Mourne region. The minister will travel on the specially Carlingford and Mourne branded 100X bus along the new route to the medieval town to attend the launch of the innovative partnership.
The joint activity which incorporates the tourism market within the public transport service for mutual benefit, is a unique enterprise which may be used as a model on a national basis. Bus Éireann and Carlingford and Mourne Region will jointly market and deliver daily tours from Dublin City to the area, with pickups in Drogheda and Dundalk.
Carlingford and Mourne Region Ltd is aimed at promoting the geographical areas from Dundalk in North Louth to Newcastle in County Down as a single destination within the national and international visitor marketplace. Its aim is to develop the area as one complete destination, ignoring political borders under its brand ‘Carlingford & Mourne – ‘It’s beautiful…’
‘Tourism statistics record that over 3 million international tourists visit Dublin and this initiative will substantially assist in dispersing a percentage of the market to this region’. Frances Taylor, Marketing Director, Carlingford and Mourne Region. ‘We recognise the minister’s strong support of our activities and commitment to directly increasing visitor numbers to the area’.
Carlingford and Mourne Region Ltd believe that a regional approach in all marketing activities will ensure a high impact within the national and international markets. The company will concentrate considerably on the international visitor package and bundling. Full packages offered will include event, walking, love & adventure, genealogy, golfing, workshops, activity, family, holistic, geology and shopping with international bookings for 2012 secured at this early stage.
Promotional car, window and display stickers have also been produced to be distributed throughout the region and the website www.carlingfordandmourne.com contains over 800 listings with an emphasis on the distinctive myths and legends of the region.
The directors of Carlingford and Mourne hold an established reputation within the tourism sector and have a remarkably successful career of securing international awards and recognition including the European Destination of Excellence Award in 2008, National Heritage Week Best Innovative Event 2010, Best Overall Event 2010 and Louth Person of the Year 2011 for contribution to tourism. The directors are strongly involved in the tourism sector at European level and are project leaders on the international EDEN Network Steering committee within the EU Commissions Tourism Unit.
In picture left to right: Kevin Woods Director Carlingford and Mourne, Stephen Woods Regional Manager Carlingford and Mourne, Mr Michael Ring Minister of State Dept of Transport, Tourism and Sport , Frances Taylor, Marketing Manager Carlingford and Mourne, Peter Fitzpatrick TD and Ray O Leary Principal Officer Dept of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
