2010 Report - Waterways Ireland

16164.2 Visit to the Waterways4.2.1 Information SourcesWord of mouth is the key source of information for waterway users withfour in ten users hearing about the waterways from friends and family.This demonstrates how important ensuring a good experience andsubsequent positive word of mouth is in attracting new users to thewaterways. Furthermore, 62% of all overseas visitors found out aboutthe waterways from friends and family, reinforcing the importance ofensuring a good experience for overseas visitors.Just over one in five waterway users (21%) obtained information aboutthe waterways from the Waterways Ireland website and/or theWaterways Ireland Office. Visitors to the Shannon-Erne and theShannon are most likely to make use of the Waterways Ireland Website.One quarter (26%) of overseas visitors used the Waterways Irelandwebsite to obtain information about the waterways. These figureshighlight the important role of Waterways Ireland as an informationsource for those using the waterways.Tourist guide books provided information on the waterways for 9% of allusers. An analysis of the data shows that this figure increases to 25%for overseas visitors, suggesting the need for information on thewaterways to be included in key tourist guide publications.Figure 8: Information SourcesWaterwayTotal(1,625)Barrow(216)%Erne(129)%GrandCanal(152)%LowerBann(137)%RoyalCanal(188)%ShannonErne(229)%Shannon(574)%Friends/relatives/WOM39%13312943174656Live in the Area33%4418206177426Regular User16%61122832025Waterways Ireland Website15%1512-14021Internet14%2822-41821Tourist Guide Book9%-393-1216Tourist Office7%-34511711Lakelands Website7%321-21413Waterways Ireland Office6%188-1157Leaflets/Posters5%63123174Newspaper/Magazine4%5249-64Lock Keepers4%2117-144Cruise Hire CompanyTour guideRadio/TVOther4%2%1%4%--*22221253-8-115---175-36323Base: All waterway users10-031982 Waterway Users Research 2010 Report (1st December)