Why is Waterford left out on a lot of tourist Itinaries

friendlyfun · 19-03-2019 2:13pm #1

Whenever I hear Americans saying they've been to Ireland they seldom mention visiting Waterford. It's always Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny never Waterford. Kilkenny always seems to get preference over Waterford.

Are we doing a poor job at promoting it? Because i think we've made great strides with the Viking Triangle, Cathedral Square, etc. This is Irelands oldest city and I think it should be on every itinerary.

BBM77 · 19-03-2019 2:52pm

It is the same as everything else. Waterford is just not getting the state support the other areas you mentioned are. Sure all the Ancient East ad’s lately are promoting Cork. It is not that we are doing a poor job. It is we are paying tax for state agencies but we are not getting a return.

Bards · 19-03-2019 4:53pm

100 years of state sponsored apartheid

Harry Palmr · 19-03-2019 6:07pm

It's a farce that Cork is included as part of the Ancient East. The branding campaign has been an utter failte can far as I can tell.

As for Waterford - I happened to be listening to Newstalk on St Paddy's morning and there was a feature regarding parades, events. They went up hill and down dale, all round the houses but did not mention Waterford once. That's about typical for the national media. Waterford's own work in this regard is laughable, they haven't even worked out what to sell never mind how to sell it.

Dum_Dum · 19-03-2019 6:38pm

Waterford needs to plough its own furrow. But it's a bit difficult when the rest of the country wants to drown everything down here at birth.

yer man! · 19-03-2019 6:41pm

I think the Greenway has been fantastic for the place though. I lived in Waterford for two years and then moved to Dublin. A lot of people in the office have gone down for a weekend because of the Greenway. I reckon it's a place that's getting more domestic tourism rather than international at the moment. Could definitely do with more promotion, the beaches and Greenway alone are fantastic amenities.

Squatter · 19-03-2019 6:51pm

BBM77 wrote: »

It is the same as everything else. Waterford is just not getting the state support the other areas you mentioned are. Sure all the Ancient East ad’s lately are promoting Cork. It is not that we are doing a poor job. It is we are paying tax for state agencies but we are not getting a return.

Look at the four shoddy TDs that ye send up to Dublin to represent you! Kim- Jong-Halligan is a complete eejit, Deasy a clown, Cullinane a joke and I don't even know the current Eff Effer's name. If they all dropped dead in the morning, no one outside the County would even notice!

And don't get me started on Martin Cullen and his pal Monica Leech :mad:

Harry Palmr · 19-03-2019 6:56pm

Cullen delivered stuff and that's what happens when you have a cabinet seat.

DubToDeise · 19-03-2019 11:15pm

The council haven't got their **** together. The Apple Market has the potential to be like the bottom of Shop Street in Galway and look at the mess we've been left with!

marlin vs · 19-03-2019 11:20pm

When Cromwell came to Olivers hill with his garrisons and gawked down on Waterford he said xucx that for a game of soldiers, theres nothing there worth robbing and he trotted off, hence the saying Waterford the untaken city.

TheQuietFella · 20-03-2019 12:12am

So much wrong here but we'll try to make a start!

Lack of top quality hotels in the city.
Poor access to other popular centres such as The West of Ireland.
(And I'm talking trains)
No traditional Irish Pubs or music scene.
Are restaurants even open before five in the evening?
No organised tours to areas outside of the city ie Lismore, Dunmore or even Hook!

And I'll say it again,

We need more Irish festivals. Galway is awash with them!

Captain Red Beard · 20-03-2019 12:30am

marlin vs wrote: »

When Cromwell came to Olivers hill with his garrisons and gawked down on Waterford he said xucx that for a game of soldiers, theres nothing there worth robbing and he trotted off, hence the saying Waterford the untaken city.

You're talking bollox son.

marlin vs · 20-03-2019 9:59am

Captain Red Beard wrote: »

You're talking bollox son.

Correct, dad.

BBM77 · 20-03-2019 10:00am

Jesus, has St Otteran's got a new computer room or something?

hardybuck · 20-03-2019 10:50am

Quite a number of my colleagues (in Dublin) have done either done the greenway or visited Faithlegg in the last 6-12 months. Faithlegg seem to be doing great offers.

Irish tourists are holidaying at home more than ever, but they want the nice small towns - they want Dunmore East, Ardmore or Dungarvan. They also want spa facilities and good quality dining. Ask yourself the question, what does Waterford offer that the other cities don't?

I popped down to Waterford on Sunday afternoon, just after the parade finished. As I saw a bit of a crowd still knocking around, I decided to park the car on Catherine's St and have a look around with the wife.

I couldn't believe it when I saw that Waterford Crystal visitor centre was shut - how many tourist orientated businesses in the world would shut when a massive crowd of tourists were literally standing outside their doors!?

The vast majority of shops in town were shut. Someone in the council must have made a bit of an effort and organised a couple of food stalls, some rickedy rides from Tramore and a couple of young lads on a stage with a guitar. But as only a handful of shops, and McDonalds, were open it was all a bit flat and half hearted.

bullpost · 20-03-2019 12:40pm

A bit of perspective:
Galway welcomes more overseas visitors than Cork or Kerry, and Longford is Ireland's least-visited county, according to new data from Fáilte Ireland.

The data charts visitor numbers and revenue by region and county in 2017, a record-breaking year for Irish tourism.

Dublin is the county attracting the most overseas visitors and tourist spend, followed by Galway, Cork and Kerry, the figures show.

Overseas visitors and spend by county (2017)

Dublin: 5,936,000 (€1981m)
Galway: 1,673,000 (€589m)
Cork: 1,600,000 (€631m)
Kerry: 1,277,000 (€337m)
Clare: 749,000 (€158m)
Limerick: 647,000 (€261m)
Mayo: 324,000 (€78m)
Kilkenny: 315,000 (€55m)
Wicklow: 275,000 (€73m)
Donegal: 255,000 (€82m)
Waterford: 255,000 (€69m)
Wexford: 232,000 (€61m)
Kildare: 211,000 (€91m)
Tipperary (N&S): 192,000 (€88m)
Sligo: 173,000 (€45m)
Louth: 172,000 (€55m)
Meath: 162,000 (€44m)
Cavan: 107,000 (€48m)
Westmeath: 103,000 (€46m)
Carlow: 79,000 (€45m)
Monaghan: 60,000 (€25m)
Roscommon: 54,000 (€27m)
Offaly: 52,000 (€16m)
Laois: 43,000 (€14m)
Leitrim: 41,000 (€18m)
Longford: 24,000 (€10m)

Harry Palmr · 20-03-2019 3:36pm

The north quays project will save us all!

marlin vs · 21-03-2019 12:26am

BBM77 wrote: »

Jesus, has St Otteran's got a new computer room or something?

I'm in Árd Na Deise boy.

Harry Palmr · 21-03-2019 12:37am

Waterford: 255,000 (€69m)
Wexford: 232,000 (€61m)
Kildare: 211,000 (€91m)
Tipperary (N&S): 192,000 (€88m)

We're not even getting what visitors we have to spend much - then again what would they spend money on here?

azimuth17 · 21-03-2019 10:08am

Harry P

Waterford: 255,000 (€69m)
Wexford: 232,000 (€61m)
Kildare: 211,000 (€91m)
Tipperary (N&S): 192,000 (€88m)

Your use of the data provided is more than a little disingenuous when you reflect on the fact that Kilkenny, the supposed acme of south east tourism, with 315,000 visitors only had a spend of €55m.

Is the spend low across the whole south east?

First Up · 21-03-2019 10:23am

The last time I stayed overnight in Waterford City the night air was filled with the sound of drunks shouting and bottles breaking.

Nice county. Dreadful city.

alta stare · 21-03-2019 10:25am

First Up wrote: »

The last time I stayed overnight in Waterford City the night air was filled with the sound of drunks shouting and bottles breaking.

Nice county. Dreadful city.

And that kind of thing is exclusive to Waterford is it??

First Up · 21-03-2019 10:26am

alta stare wrote:

And that kind of thing is exclusive to Waterford is it??

Well I slept peacfully in Cork and Galway - even Limerick.

alta stare · 21-03-2019 10:28am

First Up wrote: »

Well I slept peacfully in Cork and Galway - even Limerick.

Did you?? I dont know how us citizens of this horrible city manage to get sleep so. Terrible so it is.

And what utopia do you hail from??

thomasm · 21-03-2019 10:31am

First Up wrote: »

The last time I stayed overnight in Waterford City the night air was filled with the sound of drunks shouting and bottles breaking.

Nice county. Dreadful city.

I tried to sleep in a hotel within spitting distance of Windsor Castle once when Queen was in residence and was woken up by a running battle between drunks that lasted about 40 mins before cops arrived. Can happen anywhere.

First Up · 21-03-2019 10:31am

alta stare wrote:

And what eutopia do you hail from??

One where we know how to spell.

Fighting Tao · 21-03-2019 10:32am

I went down and cycled the copper coast to dungarvan and back via the green way. The copper coast should be promoted more. It was a beautiful cycle and the coast line is fantastic. I rarely hear mention of the copper coast anywhere.

mooseknunkle · 21-03-2019 10:54am

alta stare wrote: »

Did you?? I dont know how us citizens of this horrible city manage to get sleep so. Terrible so it is.

And what utopia do you hail from??

Dublin

dzilla · 21-03-2019 10:56am

TheQuietFella wrote: »

So much wrong here but we'll try to make a start!

Lack of top quality hotels in the city.
Poor access to other popular centres such as The West of Ireland.
(And I'm talking trains)
No traditional Irish Pubs or music scene.
Are restaurants even open before five in the evening?
No organised tours to areas outside of the city ie Lismore, Dunmore or even Hook!

And I'll say it again,

We need more Irish festivals. Galway is awash with them!

Nail on the head.

goat2 · 21-03-2019 11:09am

Not many tourists going to Roscommon, Cork and Galway are my two favourite places to spend time

whisky_galore · 21-03-2019 11:14am

Why is Cork in the so-called Ancient East? Utter bollox.

Cork can thrive on its own without being lumped into the "East".

looksee · 21-03-2019 11:18am

If you look at Trip Advisor on a regular basis and note the itineraries that people post the main thing (American) people want to see is the Cliffs of Moher, then the Ring of Kerry. And Dingle. And in the other direction, the Giants Causeway. These are unmovable and the rest of the tour has to be made around them. Cashel can be squeezed in having gone from Dublin - (Glendalough -sometimes) - Kilkenny - Cashel - Killarney - Galway - Dublin. Cashel accounts for Tipp's figures; Kilkenny is a fly-through,-visit-the-castle. Though people do sometimes break the journey there. They generally don't 'do' the south east until a second or third visit.

One of the most frequent arguments you hear when visitors say they want to include Waterford for the crystal is people saying 'oh don't bother with that, its all made abroad anyway'. A couple of people pop up and say 'no, crystal is still made in Waterford, just in lesser quantities, and it is marked Made in Waterford'.

The county is relatively easy to sell, especially the Copper Coast and Lismore - the Greenway is more appealing to Irish tourists than overseas. The Viking triangle is gaining traction, but the rest of the city just does not have any appeal. If the council would chance reducing rates significantly in the city and get some of the little shops open with appealing contents and presentation it would help, but they are determined to work on the principle of better to get huge rates from a few than a little rates from many.

hardybuck · 21-03-2019 11:32am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Why is Cork in the so-called Ancient East? Utter bollox.

Cork can thrive on its own without being lumped into the "East".

Cork is obviously a huge county. I bet if you broke it down to spend within Cork, you'd find that towns like Bantry, Kinsale, Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen etc. had as much or more tourist traffic than Cork City and East Cork.

Harry Palmr · 21-03-2019 11:39am

Even though "the glass" has not been significant presence in Waterford for years now it's legacy is certainly there for my money - it was the no effort, no brianer for tourism chiefs - just point the coach to Kilbarry. So they never thought seriously about diversification back in the 90s and early noughties which we are paying for now.

salmocab · 21-03-2019 11:51am

As an outsider my view is that there is little going on in the city, I’ve stayed a few times but never really blown away by anything. However I’ve stayed in Dungarvan and visited a lot out that direction and there feels like there is a lot to see. If I was going for a short city break it’s not somewhere I’d really consider especially for the family. Again though would gladly go to a smaller coastal town.

whisky_galore · 21-03-2019 12:25pm

hardybuck wrote: »

Cork is obviously a huge county. I bet if you broke it down to spend within Cork, you'd find that towns like Bantry, Kinsale, Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen etc. had as much or more tourist traffic than Cork City and East Cork.

It's not "East" of anything, bar Kerry.

West Cork and the city are jammed in summertime. North Cork is a bit of a backwater. East Cork has had its glory days.

noby · 21-03-2019 12:32pm

looksee wrote: »

If you look at Trip Advisor on a regular basis and note the itineraries that people post the main thing (American) people want to see is the Cliffs of Moher, then the Ring of Kerry. And Dingle. And in the other direction, the Giants Causeway. These are unmovable and the rest of the tour has to be made around them. Cashel can be squeezed in having gone from Dublin - (Glendalough -sometimes) - Kilkenny - Cashel - Killarney - Galway - Dublin. Cashel accounts for Tipp's figures; Kilkenny is a fly-through,-visit-the-castle. Though people do sometimes break the journey there. They generally don't 'do' the south east until a second or third visit.

This.

When the Wild Atlantic Way was started I know a few people argued for the inclusion of Waterford, but it didn't happen.
The WAW has been a roaring success, so then tourists were landing in Dublin, maybe spending a night there, then heading to the WAW.
Ancient East was conceived as a way to get tourists to spend at least one night this side of the Shannon before going to the WAW.

So while Waterford was included in the IAE, it didn't really fit in with the original branding of it, imo.

On a more local level, with domestic tourists, it is an awful shame that the Greenway in to the city is still incomplete - it has been a real shot in the arm for Dungarvan, Kilmac etc.

Deiseen · 21-03-2019 4:35pm

Jesus lads, if Waterford is a **** hole then I don't what can be said about the vast majority of places in Ireland.

Going on that logic, then apart from a select few nice towns in each county (not even all counties), there really isn't much to be offered and you could say that as a whole, Ireland is actually a bit of a ****-hole with some nice countryside on the side.

What is Waterford? Isn't it like 10th/11th most popular tourist spot in Ireland? We should be extremely worried if a total "****-hole" is in that position and I'd like to know where people describing Waterford as such, are actually from.

bullpost · 21-03-2019 5:13pm

Deiseen wrote: »

Jesus lads, if Waterford is a **** hole then I don't what can be said about the vast majority of places in Ireland.

Going on that logic, then apart from a select few nice towns in each county (not even all counties), there really isn't much to be offered and you could say that as a whole, Ireland is actually a bit of a ****-hole with some nice countryside on the side.

What is Waterford? Isn't it like 10th/11th most popular tourist spot in Ireland? We should be extremely worried if a total "****-hole" is in that position and I'd like to know where people describing Waterford as such, are actually from.

Most on here happily ignoring the facts to suit their agenda. The fact is we are playing catch up with the heavy hitters , but we;re going in the right directions and we have the history which we can market going forward. I expect the 2018 figures to reflect and improvement on 2017 and hopefully its onwards and upwards for the future.

TheQuietFella · 21-03-2019 5:19pm

salmocab wrote: »

As an outsider my view is that there is little going on in the city, I’ve stayed a few times but never really blown away by anything. However I’ve stayed in Dungarvan and visited a lot out that direction and there feels like there is a lot to see. If I was going for a short city break it’s not somewhere I’d really consider especially for the family. Again though would gladly go to a smaller coastal town.

I've been saying the same for years but there you go!

People here think Waterford is the only place on the planet with a coastline!
People in my simplistic view travel to experience 'CULTURE' but what ever
way you want to look at it we're in serious short supply of it in Waterford!

ImAHappyCamper · 21-03-2019 5:40pm

Tbh I'm happy out that Waterford is not too popular. It was great last summer during the heatwave to be able to go down to Dunmore East/Tramore/Copper Coast/Mahon falls etc and not be dealing with crowds of tourists. I would agree that the city needs to up its game though.

alta stare · 21-03-2019 5:50pm

First Up wrote: »

One where we know how to spell.

Jesus it must be a fun place full of folks like you so. I mean if that is all you could come back with then the person is just as pathetic as the post. Well done.

salmocab · 21-03-2019 6:05pm

Deiseen wrote: »

Jesus lads, if Waterford is a **** hole then I don't what can be said about the vast majority of places in Ireland.

Going on that logic, then apart from a select few nice towns in each county (not even all counties), there really isn't much to be offered and you could say that as a whole, Ireland is actually a bit of a ****-hole with some nice countryside on the side.

What is Waterford? Isn't it like 10th/11th most popular tourist spot in Ireland? We should be extremely worried if a total "****-hole" is in that position and I'd like to know where people describing Waterford as such, are actually from.

Just had a quick scan so I might be wrong but I don’t think anyone on this thread referred to Waterford as a sh1thole.

Harry Palmr · 21-03-2019 6:27pm

People on the internet love inventing an enemy to rail against.

Mysterypunter · 21-03-2019 6:27pm

Is Waterford a city? Someone tell that John Creedon muppet

First Up · 21-03-2019 6:50pm

alta stare wrote:

Jesus it must be a fun place full of folks like you so. I mean if that is all you could come back with then the person is just as pathetic as the post. Well done.

Sarcasm not one of your strong points then.

Lots of lovely spots around Waterford and lots of effort going into them. Ardmore, Dungarvan, Passage East, Dunmore East and amenities like golf at Faithlegg or Waterford Castle, Mount Congreve, the Greenway, the GIY centre (and the Harvest Festival). I've familiar with all of them.

But the city has little or no appeal and there's not much evidence of anyone trying very hard to improve it.

TheQuietFella · 21-03-2019 7:01pm

First Up wrote: »

Sarcasm not one of your strong points then.

Lots of lovely spots around Waterford and lots of effort going into them. Ardmore, Dungarvan, Passage East, Dunmore East and amenities like golf at Faithlegg or Waterford Castle, Mount Congreve, the Greenway, the GIY centre (and the Harvest Festival). I've familiar with all of them.

But the city has little or no appeal and there's not much evidence of anyone trying very hard to improve it.

Very true, there are quite an amount of beautiful places in County Waterford
but they are trying to flog the city like it's The Jewel of The Nile!
In reality the city is old and decaying with no modernisation or effective
planning put in place for its future. The quick buck is the only concern! :mad:

Franz Von Peppercorn · 21-03-2019 7:03pm

As a dub I prefer Waterford to Kilkenny. By miles. I mean it’s look and feel and the general atmosphere. It does need to have more to do.

beachhead · 21-03-2019 7:04pm

What's all the talk about no tourists going to the south east.What about east part of Leinster(Wicklow/Carlow/Kildare) just a "little" bit further up the coast.Sweet FA tourists around west wicklow since the invention of the ancient east and the wild atlantic way.It is a joke that Cork is in the East and I thought seeing Offaly in east a big enough p take

First Up · 21-03-2019 7:07pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote:

As a dub I prefer Waterford to Kilkenny. By miles. I mean itâ€™s look and feel and the general atmosphere. It does need to have more to do.

I know Kilkenny is a bit too popular with hens and stags but I find it a much nicer city to visit than Waterford.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 21-03-2019 7:13pm

First Up wrote: »

I know Kilkenny is a bit too popular with hens and stags but I find it a much nicer city to visit than Waterford.

It’s a town to me. Waterford looks like a city. Nearly every inland town in Ireland is fuller than coastal towns and cities.

Why is Waterford left out on a lot of tourist Itinaries

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