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Connemara Wild Escapes is a DMC/ground handler & tour operator offering a wide range of activities, experiences, and tours along the west coast of Ireland. From leisure and walking tours to cycling and angling, we provide unique packaged and bespoke experiences that showcase the beauty and culture of the West of Ireland. We are dedicated to promoting conservation, responsible travel, and sustainable tourism, and have been recognized with awards for our efforts. Visit our website for more information!
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SURVIVING - Who we are and what we do: • Connemara Wild Escapes is a DMC/ground handler & tour operator with over 500 local suppliers along the west coast of Ireland • We offer unique ½ day, 1 day, multi-day and custom-made activities, experiences and tours to the west of Ireland and all along the Wild Atlantic Way and are based in the region • We have expert knowledge of Connemara, the West of Ireland & the Wild Atlantic Way
Our offerings of various packaged and bespoke activities & experiences: • LEISURE: History, local heritage & culture, festivals, castles, gardens, cruises, rail tours, wellness, golf, equestrian, islands, wildlife, gourmet, storytelling-myths & legends, fine arts & crafts • WALKING: Graded walks: hiking, trekking, beach, bog, hill, mountain & countryside • CYCLING: Touring, electric & mountain bike tours • ANGLING: Fresh water-Wild salmon & trout, Salt water-shore & deep sea fishing • ADVENTURE: Multi activity-easy to severe-including sea kayaking, rock climbing, zip wire, sailing, clay pigeon shooting, etc • These can be supplied self guided or guided by local experts who ignite each experience with their wealth of knowledge
Background of both businesses, where they have come from, where they are at today • We are proud promoters conservation and responsible travel • We started in Connemara and are now replicating our responsible destination model of economic viability, social empowerment, and environmental responsibility across the Wild Atlantic Way route and all along the west coast counties of Ireland. We help create sustainable tourism that ensures long term economic viability in rural west of Ireland by: • Generating greater economic benefits for local people • Enhancing the well-being of host communities • Involving local people • Making positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage • We are proud award winners of: • Gold Award - Best Tour Operator in Ireland - Irish Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 • Silver Award - Best at Engaging Local People & Culture - World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015
THRIVING – The present is bright & future looks it too: • Wild Atlantic Way route leading the way by encouraging international visitors • - Promoting engagement with the land & seascapes, local peoples and culture • - This is exactly the type of customer we want • - Encouraging us to grow more responsible and sustainable product offerings • Ireland is considered safe destination internationally • The West of Ireland is considered an area worthy of conserving • Responsible & sustainable travel is an increasingly important part of most tourism products • We keep learning about and applying best practices of responsible and conservation travel
Our Aims and Objectives • Our aims are : • To be an agent of change and an influencer to our growing: • Supplier base • Customer base and • Trade agent base • To supply a connection back to nature, local peoples-their culture & traditions, • activities & experiences available in the destination, to our customer base • We achieve our objectives by: • Ensuring our packages help innovate, educate & promote Conservation & Responsible travel • Agreeing a conservation and responsible tourism code of practice and policy agreement with our suppliers
How we help create sustainable tourism that ensures the long term economic viability in rural west of Ireland : • Encouraging economic viability:- ‘When locals thrive we thrive’ • We use only local suppliers- which grows employment in region • Package income goes directly into the community and stays the region • Encouraging social empowerment:- • Training & education • Workshops, festivals of learning eg Connemara Green festival (on this weekend!) • Encouraging environmental responsibility:- • Protecting the land and seascapes • Support conservation projects: Oughterard hatchery, Red grouse project, Scooter duck • Donating to conservation projects
Thank you for your time! Enjoy the conference • Cathy Wolfe • cathy@connemarawildescape.ie • www.connemarawildescapes.ie