Waterford Tourism

Deiseen

I see Fáilte Ireland have published their tourisms figures by county for 2017.

It shows a drop in the number of people visiting Waterford from 2016, which is strange because we were told the Greenway was a massive success.

Interesting to note that Wexford managed to get 654,000 domestic trips to our 327,000. Fair play to them. Kilkenny slightly ahead on numbers but behind in the amount spent.

Either way, with our mountains, greenway, coast and a decent offering in the city, we should be doing way way better than we are.

Document is here:

http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/2_Regional_SurveysReports/2017-topline-regional-tourism-performance.pdf?ext=.pdf

Wanderer78

Deiseen wrote:

It shows a drop in the number of people visiting Waterford from 2016, which is strange because we were told the Greenway was a massive success.

You d be surprised of the amount of bull**** humans come up with in order sell concepts to one another, even though creating infrastructure such as the greenway can be good for your society, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be good for your economy, and don't believe everything you read either, I'd class the greenway as being very successful

Deiseen

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Deiseen wrote:

It shows a drop in the number of people visiting Waterford from 2016, which is strange because we were told the Greenway was a massive success.

You d be surprised of the amount of bull**** humans come up with in order sell concepts to one another, even though creating infrastructure such as the greenway can be good for your society, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be good for your economy, and don't believe everything you read either, I'd class the greenway as being very successful

Well you would at least think that it would strengthen Waterford's appeal so that we wouldn't see a drop but the opposite has happened. Maybe with the good weather this year the numbers will be up.

We do need to do better thou, for we must be doing the worst of all the coastal counties.

Harry Palmr

Sure the Greenway's only hitting it's stride this year.

Wexford's numbers are skewed massively by Dubs running amok in Courtown Harbour.

Deiseen

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Sure the Greenway's only hitting it's stride this year.

Wexford's numbers are skewed massively by Dubs running amok in Courtown Harbour.

They are. But it still means we are bottom of the table.

Harry Palmr

What do you suggest? A free bus from D24?

Cabaal

Greenway is def popular, you've only to go see it any day of the week and see the amount of families cycling or walking on it.
its very popular during the summer but evening during the winter I've met families cycling the length of it

Deiseen

Harry Palmr wrote: »

What do you suggest? A free bus from D24?

Better promotion for one. A lot of people in Ireland see Waterford as a scum hole and dont realise what it actually has to offer.

When we look at the numbers other coastal counties are pulling, it shows how behind we are.

All of them are pulling in anywhere from 1 million visitors to 2 million visitors.

We are barely scraping past 500,000.

Galway and Cork get 2.7 million each and they are further from Dublin than us and Wexford, so its not the dubs skewing that data.

azimuth17

Advertising for Wild Atlantic Way has pulled many people west. No real identity in that Ancient East mess. New hotel product needed locally as well as in Tramore and probably Dunmore. In general though we often don't help ourselves. Someone posted a "Waterford beaches are sh*t" thread after some smaller beaches failed water tests. Many beaches in Galway failed test too but you'll search a long to find any comment. As long as the derelict flour mills were there we had huge eyesore in city centre. Greenway is not properly finished into city and that whole Bilberry Road thing is very unappealing at present. The Greenway has been massive boost to Kilmacthomas and Dungarvan so it is helping., From personal experience, the number of Dubs who use the Wexford coast from Gorey/Courtown to Rosslare is quite phenomenal. We have nothing like it.

Deiseen

Cabaal wrote: »

Greenway is def popular, you've only to go see it any day of the week and see the amount of families cycling or walking on it.
its very popular during the summer but evening during the winter I've met families cycling the length of it

Didn't mean to say it wasn't really. But just didnt expect to see a dip in numbers after it opened.

Deiseen

azimuth17 wrote: »

Advertising for Wild Atlantic Way has pulled many people west. No real identity in that Ancient East mess. New hotel product needed locally as well as in Tramore and probably Dunmore. In general though we often don't help ourselves. Someone posted a "Waterford beaches are sh*t" thread after some smaller beaches failed water tests. Many beaches in Galway failed test too but you'll search a long to find any comment. As long as the derelict flour mills were there we had huge eyesore in city centre. Greenway is not properly finished into city and that whole Bilberry Road thing is very unappealing at present. The Greenway has been massive boost to Kilmacthomas and Dungarvan so it is helping., From personal experience, the number of Dubs who use the Wexford coast from Gorey/Courtown to Rosslare is quite phenomenal. We have nothing like it.

The wild atlantic way thing really bothers me considering we are actually on the Atlantic. How our politicians are not roaring to get us added to it is beyond me.

deise08

Deiseen wrote: »

The wild atlantic way thing really bothers me considering we are actually on the Atlantic. How our politicians are not roaring to get us added to it is beyond me.

Really bothers me too! But unfortunately, we're not actually on the Atlantic, we're on the Celtic sea.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Sea

Deiseen

deise08 wrote: »

Deiseen wrote: »

The wild atlantic way thing really bothers me considering we are actually on the Atlantic. How our politicians are not roaring to get us added to it is beyond me.

Really bothers me too! But unfortunately, we're not actually on the Atlantic, we're on the Celtic sea.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Sea

Except the Celtic Sea is in the Atlantic Ocean. Its like saying Waterford is not in Ireland because its in Munster.

BBM77

Deiseen wrote: »

I see Fáilte Ireland have published their tourisms figures by county for 2017.

It shows a drop in the number of people visiting Waterford from 2016, which is strange because we were told the Greenway was a massive success.

Interesting to note that Wexford managed to get 654,000 domestic trips to our 327,000. Fair play to them. Kilkenny slightly ahead on numbers but behind in the amount spent.

Either way, with our mountains, greenway, coast and a decent offering in the city, we should be doing way way better than we are.

Document is here:

http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/2_Regional_SurveysReports/2017-topline-regional-tourism-performance.pdf?ext=.pdf

They create the Wild Atlantic Way and exclude Waterford from it even though it is on the Atlantic coast and has more to offer than a lot of the counties included in the Wild Atlantic Way. They create the Ancient East and their ad’s rarely mentions Waterford. Yet entire Ancient East TV ad’s are dedicated to Cork harbour which is not even in the east of the country. So of course Waterford is not achieving its full tourism potential, how could it when it is not getting a fair share from tourist initiatives.

The reality is that considering it is getting one hand tied behind its back went it comes to state support and I include Waterford TD’s in that as well. Waterford is actually doing very well considering the circumstances it finds itself in.

Deiseen

BBM77 wrote: »

Deiseen wrote: »

I see Fáilte Ireland have published their tourisms figures by county for 2017.

It shows a drop in the number of people visiting Waterford from 2016, which is strange because we were told the Greenway was a massive success.

Interesting to note that Wexford managed to get 654,000 domestic trips to our 327,000. Fair play to them. Kilkenny slightly ahead on numbers but behind in the amount spent.

Either way, with our mountains, greenway, coast and a decent offering in the city, we should be doing way way better than we are.

Document is here:

http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/2_Regional_SurveysReports/2017-topline-regional-tourism-performance.pdf?ext=.pdf

They create the Wild Atlantic Way and exclude Waterford from it even though it is on the Atlantic coast and has more to offer than a lot of the counties included in the Wild Atlantic Way. They create the Ancient East and their ad’s rarely mentions Waterford. Yet entire Ancient East TV ad’s are dedicated to Cork harbour which is not even in the east of the country. So of course Waterford is not achieving its full tourism potential, how could it when it is not getting a fair share from tourist initiatives.

The reality is that considering it is getting one hand tied behind its back went it comes to state support and I include Waterford TD’s in that as well. Waterford is actually doing very well considering the circumstances it finds itself in.

I know it would be hard to exclude Limerick due to its position, but it's definitely not on tbe Atlantic!!!

thomasm

I've said here before the Atlantic way should have come around to Waterford. Think of the attractions along the coasts of Cork and Waterford that would enhance that route and make it even more attractive.



Also could have huge knock on effect for the airport being the start/stopping point for tourists entering/leaving the country. Get off a plane and within 30 minutes you are on the copper coast, greenway or in Dunmore !! How is that not a marketers dream?

Deiseen

thomasm wrote: »

I've said here before the Atlantic way should have come around to Waterford. Think of the attractions along the coasts of Cork and Waterford that would enhance that route and make it even more attractive.



Also could have huge knock on effect for the airport being the start/stopping point for tourists entering/leaving the country. Get off a plane and within 30 minutes you are on the copper coast, greenway or in Dunmore !! How is that not a marketers dream?

If the airport does get the extension, and once the North Quays is built. This needs be priority number 1 for everyone representing Waterford (tourism wise).

TheQuietFella

Deiseen wrote: »

When we look at the numbers other coastal counties are pulling, it shows how behind we are.

All of them are pulling in anywhere from 1 million visitors to 2 million visitors.

We are barely scraping past 500,000.

Galway and Cork get 2.7 million each and they are further from Dublin than us and Wexford, so its not the dubs skewing that data.

What do we have that other counties don't and whatever way you want to look at it the west will always be a major draw for tourists regardless.
Maybe if we invested a little more in advertising our county and amenities then maybe things might change!

StringerBell

Wexford gets the Americans on their way to see the Kennedy homestead and that thing they have in new Ross too going for it

hardybuck

Listening to the chatter around my Dublin office this summer, a considerable number of people have taken their holidays in Ireland. For busy office workers, getting as far away from things and relaxation are the main priority. If the weather is great and there is stuff to do, that's a bonus.

One colleague went to Ardmore and had a really good time, but most go to either Wexford or then the west coast. The West is currently fashionable, but I think this will turn back again if the product is right in the South East.

Dunmore East in particular surprises me. It was somewhere that had a really good reputation, but its gone invisible recently. It has everything it should need - except a good quality hotel.

Tramore - needs a bit of TLC to say the least. The beach is in bits with rocks, and the main street is very run down. Again, I'd see a lot of potential here, but I'm amazed there isn't one really good hotel in it.

Waterford doesn't appear to have any major conference centre hotels - I think that's something that would bring a lot of people in.

I'm surprised somewhere like Tramore hasn't put on an airshow like Bray when they have an airport next door to it. The Bray one draws massive crowds.

I think the new music festival in Portlaw is a huge cause for optimism - hopefully that brings repeat business.

The Greenway needs sustained investment to allow it achieve its potential, but this time I think its retailers and the hospitality industry who need to step up. There should be more stuff along the route to encourage people to spend money, and to stay along the route.

Harry Palmr

There is the beginnings of a Greenway economy, it'll take time and obviously as mentioned it needs to reach into Waterford properly.

Deiseen

StringerBell wrote: »

Wexford gets the Americans on their way to see the Kennedy homestead and that thing they have in new Ross too going for it

We actually get more overseas visitors than they do.

Adyx

It's worth keeping in mind that a large amount of visitors to Waterford are here only for a couple of hours or one day. Obviously, with the cruise ships that's always going to happen but even independent visitors (Americans especially) only stop off here on their way from Dublin to Cork. We see it every day in work with tourists having only 30mins to spare for lunch.



I'd imagine those tourists would be less inclined to visit the Greenway and I think some work needs to be done on attracting overseas visitors for longer stays. That said, there's been fantastic work done since I first moved here, especially with the Viking Triangle but the whole city feels more welcoming in the last couple of years I feel.

Deiseen

Adyx wrote: »

It's worth keeping in mind that a large amount of visitors to Waterford are here only for a couple of hours or one day. Obviously, with the cruise ships that's always going to happen but even independent visitors (Americans especially) only stop off here on their way from Dublin to Cork. We see it every day in work with tourists having only 30mins to spare for lunch.



I'd imagine those tourists would be less inclined to visit the Greenway and I think some work needs to be done on attracting overseas visitors for longer stays. That said, there's been fantastic work done since I first moved here, especially with the Viking Triangle but the whole city feels more welcoming in the last couple of years I feel.

The overseas visitors might not spend much time here but they spend more money here than in Kilkenny..

road_high

Deiseen wrote: »

The overseas visitors might not spend much time here but they spend more money here than in Kilkenny..

Do you believe these figures? Looking a the Carlow figures they rock my faith in their credibility- the revenue is only 10 million behind KK for foreign visitors (on 1/4 of the visitor numbers), 3 million for domestic. Now Carlow is a lovely county but tourist mecca it certainly isn't- I'm there every other day and you would struggle to meet a tourist bar one or two at Brownshill Dolmen. Where are they all these high spending visitors staying/doing?

Deiseen

road_high wrote: »

Deiseen wrote: »

The overseas visitors might not spend much time here but they spend more money here than in Kilkenny..

Do you believe these figures? Looking a the Carlow figures they rock my faith in their credibility- the revenue is only 10 million behind KK for foreign visitors (on 1/4 of the visitor numbers), 3 million for domestic. Now Carlow is a lovely county but tourist mecca it certainly isn't- I'm there every other day and you would struggle to meet a tourist bar one or two at Brownshill Dolmen. Where are they all these high spending visitors staying/doing?

Carlow has a lot more industry than Kilkenny so you probably see representatives from the companys spending longer amounts of time in tbe area and more money.

Would explain why Waterford has a higher tourist spend than Kilkenny as well, even though they get more tourists.

914

Deiseen wrote: »

I see Fáilte Ireland have published their tourisms figures by county for 2017.

It shows a drop in the number of people visiting Waterford from 2016, which is strange because we were told the Greenway was a massive success.

Interesting to note that Wexford managed to get 654,000 domestic trips to our 327,000. Fair play to them. Kilkenny slightly ahead on numbers but behind in the amount spent.

Either way, with our mountains, greenway, coast and a decent offering in the city, we should be doing way way better than we are.

Document is here:

http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/2_Regional_SurveysReports/2017-topline-regional-tourism-performance.pdf?ext=.pdf

Out of interest how are the figures recorded? Is it through accommodation bookings, tour bookings?

Adyx

Deiseen wrote: »

The overseas visitors might not spend much time here but they spend more money here than in Kilkenny..

Oh well then who cares. As long as we beat Kilkenny, that's the important thing here.

Deiseen

Adyx wrote: »

Deiseen wrote: »

The overseas visitors might not spend much time here but they spend more money here than in Kilkenny..

Oh well then who cares. As long as we beat Kilkenny, that's the important thing here.

They catching up on us thou!!

TheQuietFella

Deiseen wrote: »

They catching up on us thou!!

Have a walk around Kilkenny on a good weekend and see who's leading who!

debok

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Have a walk around Kilkenny on a good weekend and see who's leading who!

Waterford was packed out most weekends this year. Place could be standing room only and you would still say everywhere,anywhere else is better. Half the problem with Waterford is the local begrudgers. Place is damned if they do and damned if they don't.

TheQuietFella

debok wrote: »

Waterford was packed out most weekends this year. Place could be standing room only and you would still say everywhere,anywhere else is better.

Maybe during Spraoi it was packed but don't exaggerate!

Deiseen

TheQuietFella wrote: »

debok wrote: »

Waterford was packed out most weekends this year. Place could be standing room only and you would still say everywhere,anywhere else is better.

Maybe during Spraoi it was packed but don't exaggerate!

They get a bit more tourists than us but they tend to spend more in Waterford overall.

So unless Fáilte Ireland are exaggerating too, then I think you might be wrong...

TheQuietFella

Deiseen wrote: »

They get a bit more tourists than us but they tend to spend more in Waterford overall.

So unless Fáilte Ireland are exaggerating too, then I think you might be wrong...

I think that you're contradicting yourself in this statement so if you don't mind you might try to explain it a little better. It's just me!

Deiseen

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Deiseen wrote: »

They get a bit more tourists than us but they tend to spend more in Waterford overall.

So unless Fáilte Ireland are exaggerating too, then I think you might be wrong...

I think that you're contradicting yourself in this statement so if you don't mind you might try to explain it a little better. It's just me!

You know you could just check the figures yourself...

Since you need it spelled out to you...

They get about 10% more tourists than us overall but we get about 20% more revenue from thr ones that visit us.

Hardly beating us off the planet, both counties could do better

TheQuietFella

No D' you're just not seeing it!

914

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Have a walk around Kilkenny on a good weekend and see who's leading who!

I hate this whole waterford/kilkenny debate about who's busier, very hard to compare like for like.

Kilkenny has narrow streets with very little pedestrian areas. Hence you have 10 people on one of Kilkennys narrow footpaths combined with bumper to bumper traffic and they place looks jammers. Put the same 10 people in broad street in waterford (very wide pedestrian area) with no cars and it leaves the impressive that its dead quiet, but both performing the same.

Kilkennys three main streets would fit on Waterford's south quays, we have a far larger centre and much more spread out so comparing walking around both areas on the weekend is just silly.

Kilkenny do a great job and always have done attracting tourists, thankfully we have begun to embrace tourism and it is beginning to pay off.

Adyx

Deiseen wrote: »

They catching up on us thou!!

We really need a sarcasm smiley. :pac:


It's really not a competition (or at least not between the South East counties). A busy tourist season in the SE is good for us all. It's the other regions we should all be competing against. One city/county on it's own isn't big enough to put in the work needed to compete with the SW, Wild Atlantic Way etc.

Deiseen

Adyx wrote: »

Deiseen wrote: »

They catching up on us thou!!

We really need a sarcasm smiley. :pac:


It's really not a competition (or at least not between the South East counties). A busy tourist season in the SE is good for us all. It's the other regions we should all be competing against. One city/county on it's own isn't big enough to put in the work needed to compete with the SW, Wild Atlantic Way etc.

Oh i know, Waterford and Kilkenny are roughly on par when you add it up. So no comp just looking to improve as we are both way behind.

Wexford lagging behind in overseas visitors but roaring ahead with domestic so fair play to them.

Azatadine

Deiseen wrote: »

Didn't mean to say it wasn't really. But just didnt expect to see a dip in numbers after it opened.

I live close to it and use it regularly. I used to use it before it was a greenway too.....

However, there is no doubt in my mind based on what I see, the numbers using the Waterford to Kilmac section is way down on last year. I cycle from Bilberry to Carrolls cross and back maybe 3-4 times a week and that section is pretty quiet compared to last year. Maybe the Kilmac to Dungarvan section is still busy though?

Chiparus

Cortecs wrote: »

I live close to it and use it regularly. I used to use it before it was a greenway too.....

However, there is no doubt in my mind based on what I see, the numbers using the Waterford to Kilmac section is way down on last year. I cycle from Bilberry to Carrolls cross and back maybe 3-4 times a week and that section is pretty quiet compared to last year. Maybe the Kilmac to Dungarvan section is still busy though?

Actually think the initial spike was locals all having a look, it seems to me to be busier on the weekends with real tourists.

Wanderer78

Cortecs wrote:

However, there is no doubt in my mind based on what I see, the numbers using the Waterford to Kilmac section is way down on last year. I cycle from Bilberry to Carrolls cross and back maybe 3-4 times a week and that section is pretty quiet compared to last year. Maybe the Kilmac to Dungarvan section is still busy though?

Kilmac to dungarvan still seems fairly busy to me, but I'm rarely on the Waterford to kilmac section to compare

Chiparus

deise08 wrote: »

Really bothers me too! But unfortunately, we're not actually on the Atlantic, we're on the Celtic sea.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Sea

Funny how Cork can be on the Wild Atlantic way and the Celtic sea.:rolleyes:

Azatadine

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Kilmac to dungarvan still seems fairly busy to me, but I'm rarely on the Waterford to kilmac section to compare

Yeah, I know that visitors from Wexford (just as an example) tend to do the Kilmac to Dungarvan section.

The sooner they sort that traffic mess down by Bilberry the better. It doesnt create a great inpression for visitors to the Bilberry section.

Wanderer78

Cortecs wrote:

The sooner they sort that traffic mess down by Bilberry the better. It doesnt create a great inpression for visitors to the Bilberry section.

Unfortunately I'm not convinced fixing the traffic issues will resolve much, as I suspect that the word has gotten around that the kilmac to dungarvan section is just a lot nicer, largely due to the scenery

Azatadine

I think youre right. That being said, the section from Killoteran to Kilmeaden by the river is stunning on a summers evening around dusk.

Wanderer78

Cortecs wrote:

I think youre right. That being said, the section from Killoteran to Kilmeaden by the river is stunning on a summers evening around dusk.

Use to regularly walk it prior to the opening, it is stunning

Harry Palmr

That used to be haunt of mine when I lived in Killoteran, great photography opportunities.

Regardless of scenery though the Bilberry stretch HAS to be developed properly. It's a genuine eyesore with the old Stanley Plant, Fastnet yard esp not to mention those hideous apartments near the Red Bridge that look like they got accidentally dropped by the Almighty.

azimuth17

In the Bilberry landscape, the apartments at the Greenway entrance, are reasonably well designed and well kept. They are hardly objectionable except those who take exception to everything that's not two storey semi detached.. The Stanley plant was demolished three years ago. If you could see the apartments and not miss the Stanley foundry demolition....

mooseknunkle

Cortecs wrote: »

I live close to it and use it regularly. I used to use it before it was a greenway too.....

However, there is no doubt in my mind based on what I see, the numbers using the Waterford to Kilmac section is way down on last year. I cycle from Bilberry to Carrolls cross and back maybe 3-4 times a week and that section is pretty quiet compared to last year. Maybe the Kilmac to Dungarvan section is still busy though?

Im the same as yourself id walk or cycle from Bilberry to Kilmac 6 days a week either in the morning afternoon or evening and im seeing the opposite to you,its quite enough monday to wednesday but from the thursday to sunday its packed,even yesterday morning with the rain and wind it was full with cyclists,the numbers of people walking it are down id say but the number of couples/families/groups cycling it are way up from last year.

Ive walked the entire greenway and im my opinion the carriganore to kilmeaden section is the best part you have beautiful views of the river suir and mount congrave then the train going up and down,but none of this gets mentioned when people talk about the greenway its always the kilmac to dungarvan section that gets talked about and dont get me wrong that is great too but the city needs to promote the city side more.

And as others have said from the quay to bilberry looks terrible they really need to get started on the route along the riverside if thats ever going to happen,also hotels should start doing 3 day packages with bike hire etc get people into the city and spending money,its good to see the old court hotel back open as the greenway manor hotel so maybe they are going to start things like that.

Azatadine

azimuth17 wrote: »

In the Bilberry landscape, the apartments at the Greenway entrance, are reasonably well designed and well kept. They are hardly objectionable except those who take exception to everything that's not two storey semi detached.. The Stanley plant was demolished three years ago. If you could see the apartments and not miss the Stanley foundry demolition....

I don't think anybody has an issue with the apartments in Bilberry? I think it's the section of road from the bridge to the greenway car park that are terrible. The road surface is in bits on that section now too.