Have you ever thought about a future in rural tourism? CAFRE can help!
A new Rural Tourism Programme has been developed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) which provides an insight into providing both accommodation and activities in the countryside. Over 120 farmers and farm family members have already completed the programme at Banbridge and Greenmount. The course will run for a third time in Omagh and commences on 1 May at 8.00 p.m. in Omagh Enterprise Centre. It will run for one evening per week for four weeks.
One of the guest speakers is Maria Heneghan, Rural Tourism Specialist, Teagasc. Maria has over 17 years experience in the rural tourism sector working with farmers establishing tourism businesses in the Republic of Ireland. Maria outlines what it takes to make a rural tourism business succeed illustrating her talk with a very interesting range of slides compiled over the years in her work. Maria previously judged the Farm Tourism Awards.
Richard Dougan from Armagh is also one of the guest speakers. Richard has established Lurgabuoy Activity Centre just outside Markethill. He is no stranger to a challenge having also climbed Mount Everest. Based on his experience of establishing the business at Lurgabuoy, Richard will provide an open testimony about the challenges he has overcome and will provide many useful hints and tips.
Ann Brown, CAFRE, recently travelled with Maria Heneghan to look at farm based tourism businesses in Cumbria. Ann will provide a very informative talk based on their travels and discussions with the eight farm based tourism businesses that they visited. She also takes a look at the economics of running a tourism business and the potential to make a profit.
A team from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) spend an evening outlining the Tourist Boards new tourism strategy and how it will be implemented. They also take a detailed look at the different tourism sectors and the performance of these to date.
The programme is open to anyone from a farming background that is interested in finding out more about opportunities in rural tourism. Places are still available on the Omagh programme and anyone interested in attending the Omagh Programme should contact Gareth Wadsworth, CAFRE Rural Enterprise Lecturer, on 028 8676 8397 or John Moore, Senior Rural Enterprise Adviser, on 028 8225 3412 to reserve a place.
