“European Greenways: an opportunity for local and sustainable tourism development”

 Date: Thursday 28 September, 2017 – 2-5pm 

Venue:  Dunraven Arms Hotel – Main St, Adare, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

Objectives:

• To provide an overview of European greenways, paying special attention to Ireland.
• To present examples of greenway best practices as avenues of local and tourism development that can be replicated in other European territories.
• To encourage interested parties to continue to develop greenways in Europe, with reference to funding opportunities for implementation and promotion.
• Exchange and networking among greenway promotors and managers in order to foster mutual collaboration.

Addressed to: tourism promotion and greenway management authorities; public authorities and private organizations wishing to promote greenways for tourism in their territories; local service and equipment providers (SMEs) in the vicinity of greenways. Press & Media.

Program:

2-2:30           Opening speeches.

Giulio Senes, President European Greenways Association.

Brian Kennedy, Senior Executive Officer, Economic Development, Limerick City & County Council.

2:30 – 3:30    European Greenways. Overview with special focus on Ireland.

European Greenways an asset for sustainable tourism. Mercedes Muñoz, Director, European Greenways Association. (Europe)

Greenways in Ireland, the current network and development plan strategy. Derek O’Neill. Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (the Transport Section) (Ireland).

Great Southern Greenway Limerick: recent works and future plans. Majella O’Brian, Economic Development, Limerick City & County Council  (Ireland).

LEADER and the Rural Development Programme; what are the opportunities for greenways?  Susan Grieve. European Network for Rural Development. Geographical Expert for Ireland and UK.

3:30 – 4:30   Greenways: Promotion and Tourism Product.

Greenways in Ireland: tourism promotion and development. Mary Stack, Manager, Investment and Innovation, Fáilte Ireland (Ireland).

Promoting greenways at national level: Vias verdes in Spain, a very well appreciated brand. Arantxa Hernández, Spanish Railways Foundation (Spain).

Vennbahn a very successful example of promotion and tourist product development in a cross border greenway. Dany Heck, Adjunct Director, Tourismusagentur Ostbelgien (Belgium).

New countries joining the greenways initiative. The case of Latvia: How to set up greenways taking advantage of the best practices in Europe? Raitis Sijats, Vidzeme Tourism Association, Chairman (Latvia)

4:30pm         Debate.

4:50:             Closing words.

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Please register here:

The workshop and the ulterior visit on 29th September are organized on the occasion of the  8th European Greenways Award Ceremony 2017, that will be held on Thursday 28th September 2017.