Local Authorities Planning for Tourism in Ireland

Emmet McLoughlinDr James Hanrahan

Institute of TechnologyAsh Lane, Sligo

10th Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference (THRIC)

• Introduction

• Methodology

• Findings

• Conclusion

Methodological Approach

Content Analysis of all County Development Plans

Content Analysis

Tool

Findings

Specifics of Plan

Specific Tourism Policy Section Tourism policies SEA compliant

86%

72%79%

0%

20132005

Sustainable tourism planning supported within the CDP’s

Sustainable development supported

Sustainable planning for tourism supported

93%

55%

76%

38%

20052013

Sustainable tourism planning supported within the CDP’s cont.

Specifi

c touris

m land use

zoning

Susta

inable re

sort

planning g

uidelines

Susta

inabilit

y indica

tors

for touris

m

28%21%

0%

14%7%

0%

20132005

Sustainable tourism planning supported within the CDP’s cont.

Policy on caravan & campingDisabled provision mentioned

2013

2005

48%

10%

41%

3%

20132005

Integration of guidelines and policies for sustainable tourism

0% 0%

83%

14% 7%0% 0%21%

38%

0%

20132005

Conclusion

• Levels of sustainable planning for tourism in Ireland have improved overall

• Lack of communication of relevant Global and EU strategies on planning sustainably for tourism

Questions or Comments?