Revitalizing Cork Harbour: A new tourism destination in Ireland

Monday, February 26, 2024

Fáilte Ireland has unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming Cork Harbour into an exceptional tourist destination, in collaboration with Cork City Council, Cork County Council, and the Port of Cork. This initiative seeks to uncover and capitalize on opportunities to elevate Cork’s appeal as a tourism hub and emphasize its maritime heritage.

The strategy intends to make significant improvements in the accessibility, capacity, facilities for visitors, and overall flow of visitors in Cork Harbour, while also enriching their experiences. A critical component of this plan involves evaluating and enhancing visitor orientation around Cork Harbour, with an emphasis on augmenting public transport, advancing sustainable transport solutions, and facilitating a wider distribution of tourists across the region.

This endeavor is an integral part of Fáilte Ireland’s broader five-year plan for Cork City, Harbour, and East Cork, designed to establish Cork Harbour as a premier global tourism destination.

Acknowledging the underutilization of Cork Harbour, despite its status as the largest natural harbor in the Northern Hemisphere, Fáilte Ireland identifies a significant opportunity to increase visitations by leveraging the distinctive appeal of the Cork Harbour Islands. The agency also aims to bolster existing greenways, blueways, and transportation networks to enhance access to the harbour, as well as improve connections between Cork City and the harbour area.

Brian O’Flynn, representing Fáilte Ireland, has highlighted the plan’s potential to unlock the considerable promise of Cork Harbour. He points out that the strategy is crucial for augmenting Cork Harbour’s unique tourism offerings, thus motivating visitors to extend their stays and increase their spending. This, in turn, is expected to yield considerable economic advantages for the local community, the wider region, and the overall economy.

In collaboration with the local and county councils and the Port of Cork, Fáilte Ireland is committed to executing this ambitious strategy to make Cork Harbour a standout attraction within Ireland’s Ancient East.

Cllr. Frank O’Flynn, the Mayor of County Cork, has remarked on the vast, yet to be harnessed, potential of Cork Harbour, praising its unparalleled natural beauty. He believes that the plan will uncover new opportunities to elevate the region to a world-class tourism standard, encouraging visitors to prolong their stays and, consequently, enhancing the economic prosperity of Cork Harbour and the broader East Cork region.

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