Abstract
Tourism is one of Ireland's most important economic sectors. In 2017, the overall visits to the country have increased by over 10%. However, such growth if not managed correctly can present many challenges to destinations, particularly along Irelands 2500km driving route, the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW). This paper reports on the application of the European Tourism Indicator System for sustainable destination management in County Donegal, Ireland. While significant data was generated on tourism activity at local level, results do suggest that a number of the indicators would need further research going forward. This evidence informed approach to tourism planning can assist Local Authorities in future planning considerations, while also helping to protect the long-term sustainability of the tourism product in County Donegal.
Highlights
Ireland is currently experiencing a boom in its tourism industry
Materials and Methods This study focuses on the application of the European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS) in County Donegal, Ireland
Irish flora and fauna and their associated habits are an important product of Ireland’s tourism industry (McLoughlin and Hanrahan, 2016), the environmental impacts of tourism need to be managed through data collection of tourist activity
Summary
Ireland is currently experiencing a boom in its tourism industry. According to Fáilte Ireland (2017), there were 7.7 million overseas visitors coming to Ireland during the months of January to September alone, an increase of 2.9% on 2016. As noted by McLoughlin and Hanrahan (2017), uncertainty looms over whether travellers from the Northern Ireland will once again face border checks and if visitors from Britain will be restricted from free movement in the EU. Such issues could have a major impact on one such destination, located in the periphery of North West Ireland, County Donegal due to its close proximity to the border with Northern Ireland. An evidence informed approach to planning for tourism, from data collected through tourism indicators can be an ideal approach to ensure the future long-term sustainability of the tourism industry in County Donegal
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