With ambitious new Co2 emissions targets, and Ireland's clean-green image being queried, what is the tourism sector in Ireland doing to respond?
That's the question that The Greenbox, a cross-border ecotourism organisation, is aiming to answer when it holds Ireland's first all-island ecotourism conference in Lisnaskea from today.
This timely and significant event, which is being supported by the Western Development Commission, is being held in the Share Holiday Village today (Wednesday) and tomorrow.
Mary Mulvey, Chief Executive Officer with The Greenbox said that for the first time, the National Development Plan had included ecotourism.
"This conference will show how innovation in this sector can react to consumer demand and create a vibrant tourism experience, while at the same time contributing to conservation," she said. "Ecotourism offers opportunities for a range of sectors, including agri business, marine tourism, accommodation, health and wellness, activities, crafts, and more".
RURAL TOURISM
Meanwhile, Gillian Buckley, the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Development Commission said The Greenbox showed how successful a rural tourism initiative could be when stakeholders worked together to develop innovative, high quality products.
These, she added, met international standards and tapped into growth sectors, to the benefit of rural tourism which, she reported, has been experiencing significant challenges in recent years.
Siobhan McCauley, NITB's Product Development officer said that in the context of tourism growth in Northern Ireland, it was important that sustainable tourism development was a core element of the Board's future strategy and priorities.
Key business, marketing, media and environmental themes are expected to be addressed by an array of both Irish-based and international expert speakers.
The event will copperfasten The Greenbox's image as Ireland's leading ecotourism organisation and destination.
Fáilte Ireland's Aidan Pender said that the growing emphasis on carbon footprints and environmental impacts meant that there was a need for Irish tourism to improve its environmental performance in general.
