Ms. Majella Hunt, Director of Services informed the members that the new Roscommon Tourism website and brochure was launched last Friday in King House with a very positive reaction to date.

Eimear Dowd, Tourism Officer, gave a presentation to the members of the new branding (logo), website and brochure:

·         The logo depicts the attractions, water, landscapes and communities of county Roscommon

·         Roscommon will be promoted as a Land of Memories

·         Contemporary and unique website www.visitroscommon.ie with high quality photos that will guide the user to explore further with sections on heritage, trails, water activities. Accommodation and dining directory also available.

The Cathaoirleach thanked everyone involved in such a high quality project that can only benefit and promote the tourism in the county.

Members commented as follows:

·         Website must be kept up to date and community groups encouraged to submit material

·         Monksland and Drum Heritage Centre not identified on the map

·         Can the website be facilitated as an App on a phone?

·         Greenway from Dublin to Clondra in Longford and a connection to Roscommon

·         Our diaspora can promote our tourism product

·         Everyone in the county should be promoting the county as a tourist destination – tourist ambassadors

·         Coat of Arms should be on the brochure

·         Need for capital investment in our attractions and heritage sites– Hidden Heartlands do not appear to be supporting Roscommon.

·         Investment required in Suck Valley Way.

·         Look at the uniqueness of our green fields and limestone walls

·         We need to have a presence around the county in promoting tourism

·         Need to encourage our own citizens to visit tourist experiences around the county

·         Group in Tulsk have purchased a bus from dormant funds account to shuttle visitors from Tulsk to Rathcroghan Heritage site.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Waldron

SECONDED by Cllr. Fitzmaurice

It was AGREED to invite the Directors of the Ballintubber ‘Castles in Communities’ project to give a presentation at the July plenary meeting. The Tourism Officer and Heritage Officer to be invited to attend the presentation.

The Cathaoirleach proposed that the Council, through the town teams, promoting the idea of tourist ambassadors in every town and village whereby there could be identified by a sign outside their premises.  Such a person would be able to give basic information about the area to tourists or visitors enquiring about local sights, accommodation, food etc.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

SECONDED by Cllr. Naughten

It was AGREED that the Council facilitate tourism ambassadors in towns and villages around the county

The tourism officer replied to all of the queries and assured members that gaps in the brochure or website would be updated in the next publication run. Funding for websites will become available and a mentoring process was announced this week. Currently matched funding for tourism projects are currently only available for projects of greater than €2.5m but this is expected to be reduced to facilitate smaller schemes next year. Majella Hunt confirmed that the regeneration team is working alongside tourism to leverage funding under the outdoor recreation scheme and the Council is also working with National Greenways.