A new plan for tourism in our County, “A Tourism Strategy for South Dublin County 2015-2020” predicts the potential for an increase of 2500 new jobs in the sector, the doubling of current spend from domestic and international tourists to €62m by 2025 and the prospect of reshaping perceptions of this part of Dublin.

Driven by a Tourism Working Group comprising of industry stakeholders, Councillors and key Council staff, the strategy will serve as the roadmap to unlock the potential of South Dublin County and develop the tourism economy over the next five years.

The strategy was commissioned by the Council in September last and developed on their behalf by Tourism Development International. The strategy follows on from the Destination Dublin Report by Fáilte Ireland, launched in 2014, which outlined the necessity to reshape the Dublin tourism experience, pursue new markets and enhance collaboration between all stakeholders to enhance the reputation of Dublin as an international destination of choice.

The new vision for Dublin is;

“The vibrant capital city bursting with a variety of surprising experiences-where city living thrives side by side with the natural outdoors.”

Welcoming the strategy Mayor Fintan Warfield said;

“I am delighted to launch the Tourism Strategy for a part of Dublin that is truly on Dublin’s Doorstep - South Dublin County.  We are enthusiastic about playing our role in restoring the global reputation of Dublin as a top class destination for tourism. Without doubt our county’s potential offering can strongly support the new vision of Dublin. The beautiful mountains and waterways of this part of Dublin sit side by side with city living and are an excellent asset with potential to attract domestic and international visitors. Of course we must ensure our interventions are sustainable but it is the case that for Dublin to realise its potential we need to realise ours ……as the Great Outdoors on Dublin’s Doorstep.”

The key positioning of the County, articulated at the launch of the Strategy will be built upon a vision of improving the visitor’s experience and access to the outdoors and their enjoyment of our villages and towns.

‘The mountains and waterways of South Dublin County are within minutes of the centre of Dublin and provide exhilarating and relaxing opportunities to be as active as you want or simply absorb the views. It is easy to enjoy the outdoor recreational activities, stories, music and food, whether in the mountains, along the rivers or canal, or in the small towns and villages. You don’t just visit South Dublin; you experience it in every way’.

Chair of the Tourism Working Group instrumental in framing the strategy, Cllr John Lahart, has been impressed by the constructive collaboration between industry, agencies and the Council and is keen to see this sustained, he added “Realising our potential as an attractive and strong player in the overall destination that is Dublin depends entirely upon excellent communication and a shared commitment and vision for the County. We have created a roadmap but we can’t stand still. Now I’m keen to see the development of action plans with key agencies and the private sector to drive us ever closer to making that vision real. This Strategy is an opportunity to improve our citizen’s quality of life and shape perceptions and experiences of the County, whilst also bringing economic benefits to all. We have so much to offer and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to our corner of Dublin”.

Speaking at the event launch, the Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council, Daniel McLoughlin said;

“The recently launched National Tourism Policy outlines how tourism is about people and place. This Council is uniquely positioned to influence tourism in this context.  Central to this is the quality and presentation of our towns and villages augmented and enhanced by our parks, waterways, mountains and other visitor attractions. We also play a part, along with local communities, in presenting the rich and diverse culture and heritage of our county. These qualities together with quality accommodation are fundamental to our tourism offering as an edge of city location”.