2022-2032 Vistitor Experience Development Plan

The area as a whole boasts one of the highest hotel and B&B occupancy levels in Northern Ireland. With numerous hotels and B&B operators, the area is well established for its accommodation offerings. For the Open-Minded Explorers and Culturally Curious , hotels and self-catering establishments are plentiful. However, as we emerge in to a post-pandemic world, Social Instagrammers are in search of hidden gems, climate conscious superhosts and bespoke all year round offerings. While the area is not short of accommodation, it is not uncommon for visitors to experience difficulty in accessing unique and varied experiences, particularly within more rural towns and villages. Stakeholders and residents have expressed that informational accessibility posed the biggest problem for tourists and visitors across all sectors. “A dedicated, well promoted platform with information and booking links across all products would prove beneficial to mitigate these issues”. With few superhosts in the area, the Airbnb offering is lagging behind other tourist destinations. The engagement showed that attractions and hotels were saturated during the height of the pandemic, with little capacity to accommodate those on staycations. Campervan and caravan facilities were also reported as an opportunity for development across the area, with seasonal opening times hindering the potential of this accommodation offering. Aligned to the commitment to sustainable tourism, opportunities also exist in greening water based providers and cruiser hire in particular for accommodation. 3.4 Maintaining the staycation “We have a great opportunity to continue with the staycation trend as a greener holiday choice” B&B operator, Oct 2021 The Sperrins 27 Fermanagh Lakelands & Omagh and The Sperrins