County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

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County Kildare Walking Routes Project e) Periodic market research and dissemination of results is useful to target promotion and advertising and measure the success of the promotional strategy. Involving third level institutes (e.g. NUI Maynooth) is a cost effective way of achieving results. f) The continuous updating of information on walking in Kildare on national and regional websites, both public and private, is required. Kildare walks do not currently appear on many of these sites (for example Kildare heritage towns do not appear on http://www.heritageisland.com/visitor_attractions.asp.) This could be addressed by IT administrative assistance to the tourism development officer, who could also forward uploads of relevant information to Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, walking sites etc. g) Information Leaflets. There are a very significant number of publications and brochures on walking routes in Kildare. Many of these are out of print. A review of existing material and their effectiveness and a plan to update and reprint earlier publications should be considered. For example an update and reprint of “Towpath Trails – A Walkers Guide to the Canal Towpaths of County Kildare” originally produced by County Kildare Vocational Education Committee and Cospóir is an achievable first step that will introduce these walks to an influx of new residents in North Kildare who are looking for walking routes in their area. Information leaflets and walking guides could be distributed through petrol filling stations, hotels, guesthouses and tourist information centres, as well as through schools and colleges. h) Standardisation of the Walking product/service. The National Waymarked Ways Advisory Council has established national guidelines that effectively deliver a recognisable brand for walking trails anywhere in Ireland. Kildare County Council should adopt this “brand” in planning guidelines and advice to walking route development in the county and make it a condition of funding support. A standardised Heritage Town Walk map, guide and signage would increase the attractiveness of these routes to visitors. i) Joint Promotional Activities. Kildare County Council will be informed of planned activities by Bord na Móna, Kildare Sports Partnership, Waterways Ireland, Coillte, MERTA and private tourism sector service providers through the Tourism Strategy Group. Where appropriate Kildare County Council can choose to contribute and/or mange joint promotional activities to achieve maximum impact. Kildare County Council could co-operate with the Kildare Sports Partnership to develop heritage aspects of the Slí na Sláinte routes. The leaders could include heritage appreciation in their training schedule with new walkers.A joint promotion with a petrol distribution company, for example, could include support for the production of county walking guides with distribution from filling stations in County Kildare to reach a nontraditional walking audience. j) Promotion of Heritage. Kildare County Council could build on the above activities by forming a stronger alliance with the Heritage Council to promote the unique built and natural heritage of County Kildare. Significant strides have been made to achieve this through the office of Heritage Officer. However, new walking routes such as Pilgrim routes linked to the cult of Brigid (Dara) could be initiated and The CSA Project 3419 12
County Kildare Walking Routes Project Curragh’s unique archaeological heritage 3 and recreational access could be enhanced in the public eye through increased collaboration with the Heritage Council. k) As a first step in the development and promotion of walks in Kildare, Kildare County Council could enter into discussions with the Kildare Sports Partnership to expand the Slí na Sláinte walk leader training to include an appreciation of natural and built heritage along their local route. The leaders could include heritage appreciation in their training schedule with new walkers. This initiative would be particularly effective where KELT has already supported the publication of heritage walk maps. It could be a pilot project to test the effectiveness of the new walking task force and the ability of interested stakeholders to work together with direction from the heritage officer of Kildare County Council. 3 See Archaeology Ireland ‘The Curragh’ supplement, Autumn 2005. CSA Project 3419 13
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