In 2005, the Marine Institute was requested by the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources to research the current position of water-based tourism and leisure in Ireland with a view to drawing up a management and development strategy for the sector. In doing so, the Institute consulted widely with the tourism industry, stakeholders, government agencies and local authorities. A review was conducted of previous development initiatives in the sector and of best practice at home and abroad. An inter-agency working group was established to steer the research agenda and to devise a development strategy based on the research findings. The working group requested that a detailed audit be conducted to determine the strength of existing water-based tourism products throughout the country and to give guidance on the need for investment and / or improved management procedures.
In 2006, a detailed audit of the sector was carried out by Royal Haskoning, Spatial Planning Consultants, and Kevin O’Connor, Donegal County Council in collaboration with the Marine Institute.
The audit systematically assesses the quantity and quality of Ireland’s water-based tourism and leisure products and identifies product gaps and opportunities at local, regional and national level with a view to informing policy and investment decisions.
Eleven of the most popular water-based leisure activities are covered in the audit:
beaches, diving, marinas, sailing/boating/water sports centres, sea angling charters,
inland angling, waymarked coastal and waterway walks, whale and dolphin watching, navigable inland waterways, small tourism vessels and water or marine-themed visitor centres.
Copies of the Water-Based Tourism & Leisure Product Audit 2006 (PDF, 7.15MB) are available to (PDF, 7.15MB). For further information please contact Strategic Planning & Development Services of the Marine Institute.