Shannon region to benefit from €100,000 tourism innovation awards

A NEW €100,000 Tourism Innovation Awards Scheme was yesterday announced for the Shannon region.

Successful projects will be eligible for awards up to a maximum of €25,000 or 50% of eligible expenditure.

A spokesman for Shannon Development, which is behind the scheme, said: “Its aim is to support the development of innovative tourism ideas, concepts and projects that will fill strategic gaps and help develop a range of new and existing tourism products in the Shannon region.”

The region encompasses counties Limerick, Clare, north Tipperary and south west Offaly.

Phil Deegan said Shannon Development was committed to pioneering new initiatives and enhancing existing tourism projects.

She said the goal of the initiative was to encourage research and innovation, which would result in the growth of tourism services, products and marketing.

The programme will be open to private sector interests, public bodies, semi-state organisations and voluntary organisations.

“Ideally, the scheme will assist award recipients in a number of areas for example, with piloting new product concepts, feasibility studies, plans for business expansions, or development works.

“Inevitably, requests for awards exceed the amount of funds available, each project will be considered on its merits in line with stated criteria,” she said.

A similar awards scheme was run by Shannon Development three years ago and 16 tourism projects around the region were assisted by Shannon Development to the tune of €1.3 million.

Among the projects assisted was the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail, now under construction.