New Tourism Signage Strategy For Lough Derg

May 28, 2012 - PRLog -- A signage audit has been carried out by consultants URS Ireland, and a presentation will be made on the initial findings of the consultants at two public meetings to be held this week in Portumna and Killaloe. The audit focuses on the need for and benefits of tourism signage, including orientation, interpretive and information boards in the Lough Derg area.

Lough Derg is home to one of Ireland’s most comprehensive and best known network of Looped Walks, Driving Routes, Long-Distance Way Marked Ways, Linear Walks and Heritage Trails. The lake also is a popular destination for anglers and boating and watersports enthusiasts.

The preparation of the Lough Derg Signage Strategy comes less than three months after the LDMSG launched a smartphone application that uses GPS technology and Google Maps to guide tourists and outdoor enthusiasts around the trails and walks.

Mr. Joe MacGrath, LDMSG Chairperson and North Tipperary County Manager, explained: “The Lough Derg area, which incorporates parts of Galway, Clare and Tipperary, is regarded as one of the country’s most valuable tourism assets. In the current economic climate, it is imperative that every effort is made to enhance visitor access to and awareness of all that the area has to offer. The development of a signage strategy will pave the way for a comprehensive marking of the area’s principal tourist attractions and towns and villages.”

“The LDMSG was established to bring a coherent marketing focus to the Lough Derg Catchment area and to establish the Lough Derg brand nationally and internationally. The development of a Signage Strategy is key to achieving this objective. It is hoped that it will help to link people to destinations within the wider Lough Derg area,” Mr. MacGrath added.

Public meetings on the development of a Signage Strategy for the region will be held this Wednesday (May 30th) at Portumna Town and Community Hall in County Galway from 5.00pm to 6.30pm and at the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, County Clare, from 8.00pm to 9.30pm.

“All are welcome to attend either of this week’s meetings and to have their say on the future approach to signage provision in the Lough Derg area. The meeting should be of interest to tourism and leisure businesses, accommodation providers, local community and heritage groups, walkers, cyclists, lake users, residents and anyone concerned with the improvement of signage in the Lough Derg Area,” Mr. MacGrath concluded.

The LDMSG involves a broad range of representation from stakeholders, including local authorities from Galway, Clare and North Tipperary, the Mid-West Regional Authority, Shannon Development, Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, and business representatives from the Lough Derg area.  

For further information on the Lough Derg Signage Strategy contact Deirdre Black at URS Ireland at 01 4155100 / deirdre.black@urs.com

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