Wild Atlantic Way route 'could be extended' to NI

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The Wild Atlantic Way stretches from Kinsale, County Cork, to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal
  • Author, John Campbell
  • Role, 成人论坛 News NI economics and business editor

The Wild Atlantic Way could be extended to Northern Ireland, Stormont鈥檚 Economy Minister Conor Murphy has said.

The 2,500 km (1,553 mile) coastal route is a tourism brand which currently stretches from Kinsale, County Cork, to the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland.

The route was launched in 2014 and is credited with helping boost tourism in the west of the country.

Mr Murphy has said he wants to start discussions about using the route and other F谩ilte Ireland brands in Northern Ireland.

Image source, PA

Image caption, Conor Murphy says he wants discussions around extending the route

Tourism promotion on the island of Ireland is split between three agencies.

F谩ilte Ireland promotes the Republic of Ireland, Tourism NI promotes Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland jointly markets the whole island to international visitors.

As a F谩ilte Ireland initiative, the Wild Atlantic Way does not currently include Northern Ireland on the route.

It is regarded as a highly successful brand with a recent analysis for F谩ilte Ireland estimating that it generates revenue of about 鈧3bn (拢2.58bn) per year for communities along the route.

Mr Murphy, whose responsibilities as minister include tourism, has said he wants discussions to include consideration of "rolling the wild Atlantic Way into the Causeway Coastal Route, the Hidden Heartlands into Fermanagh, and places such as Downpatrick and Armagh into Ireland鈥檚 Ancient East".

The possibility of extending the Wild Atlantic Way has been floated before but no serious proposals ever previously emerged.

Discussions would need to consider how the move would impact existing tourism branding in Northern Ireland and consider any potential costs.

Image source, Colleen McAllister

Image caption, Colleen McAllister thinks extending the Wild Atlantic Way to NI would be "fantastic"

Colleen McAllister, who runs the Little Shop of Ireland gift shop on the promenade in Portstewart in County Londonderry, said extending the Wild Atlantic Way brand could help promote the area.

"We have a beautiful coastline but it does need better signage, needs more economic input," she said.

鈥淚 think we鈥檝e so much on our doorstep, it鈥檚 not being used properly and it鈥檚 not being promoted properly, both from the point of view of Northern Ireland tourism and our local councils.

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 so much more could be done."