New Ouitdoor Activity and Adventure Tourism Development Programme Launched

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is excited to announce the launch of a new ‘Outdoor Activity and Adventure Tourism Development Programme’. Local providers of outdoor and adventure activities and experiences are invited to attend an online information session on Thursday, 30 March 2023 from 6.30pm to 7.45pm.

The aim of the session is to provide insights into this exciting new programme that will focus on defining and crafting high quality outdoor adventure activities and experiences to encourage domestic and global customers to visit, stay and return to our district.

The programme is open to early learners and experienced participants who wish to develop market-ready outdoor activity and adventure experiences, that can generate economic benefits via tourism for the district. This includes providers and businesses that have never before worked in tourism, who have the potential to deliver a compelling outdoor activity or adventure experience, and to existing businesses that wish to develop new outdoor adventure experiences

The activities and experiences that emerge via this programme will complement those that are already available for purchase across the district by the local community and visitors.

The goal is to position Newry, Mourne and Down as a leading tourism destination in the global marketplace for outdoors and adventure activities and experiences. Those that emerge via the programme are integral to this goal and will be positioned under the umbrella of Tourism Northern Ireland’s (TNI’s) Embrace a Giant Spirit branding and will align with Council’s sustainability principles and ethos.

Providers should be mindful of approaches that safeguard the:

• Environment: showcasing the natural beauty of the district while ensuring that the environment is protected for contemporary and future generations
• Community: working in a harmonious partnership with the community to celebrate and preserve habits, customs and traditions
• Livelihoods: generating economic benefits for the provider that extend into the wider district area

An online information session has been arranged on Thursday 20 March from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. It will provide an insight into why outdoor activity and adventure experiences are key for Newry, Mourne and Down; the framework, purpose, and expectations of the programme; outcomes and sample experiences anticipated from the programme; requirements and criteria for progression into the programme; programme dates for the diary and a question-and-answer session to address queries.

The programme is open to all providers based in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. It will focus on outdoor activity and adventure tourism experiences such as:

• Land and water based outdoors and adventure activities and experiences
• Soft adventure outdoors and adventure activities and experiences. Such as
  • Land based: e-biking, hill walking, golfing, equestrian, birdwatching
  • Water based: angling, paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, snorkelling

• Guided experiences that facilitate exploration and enable visitors to connect with the natural surroundings, local people, history, customs and stories such as walking and biking experiences.
• Activities that allow for self-exploration such as walking trails, bike or kayak rental.
• Outdoor and adventure activities and experiences for thrill seekers and special interest adventurers.
• Survival skills experiences such as natural living skills, bushcraft skills.
• Accessible experiences, inclusive of people of all ages and abilities.

Successful participants who meet the criteria are asked to attend a participants group session on Tuesday, 18 April 2023 (in person, with the location to be confirmed)

The programme will continue throughout April 2023 to January 2024 (to include training, mentoring and market testing), ending with a launch of the experiences that emerge via the programme in January 2024. 

To sign up simply email your name, business name and location to caroline@runda.ie stating that you are interested in learning more about the 'Outdoor Activity and Adventure Providers Experience Development Programme' before Tuesday 28 March 2023. Ensure that you are available to attend the programme introduction on Thursday, 30 March 2023 from 6.30pm to 7.45pm to learn more and determine if you meet the programme criteria. Subject to meeting the programme criteria please be available to attend a follow-up session in person from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday, 18 April 2023