2022-2032 Vistitor Experience Development Plan

❏ Connectivity and infrastructure to Fermanagh and Omagh is poor ❏ Poor public transport provision ❏ Poor access to services for rural communities ❏ High levels of multiple deprivation ❏ Lack of packaging experiences - reliance on single attractions to bring people to the area ❏ Difficult to navigate around the area ❏ Sperrins is the only AONB in the UK without management authority ❏ A lot of administrative boundaries ❏ Low levels of broadband coverage ❏ Lack of secure career opportunities in tourism ❏ High reliance on voluntary workers ❏ Tension between tourism areas and environmental protection ❏ Focus on preserving assets rather than developing them ❏ Online presence is poor ❏ Seen as a seasonal destination ❏ Campervan/motorhome provision is poor ❏ Omagh town needs development ❏ Lack of commercialisation of products eg. the Cuilcagh Boardwalk ❏ Limited evening economy ❏ No real time visitor numbers ❏ Lack of trust from business sector STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS ❏ Unique natural landscape and vast range of heritage assets ❏ Creative landscape with a lot of home grown talent ❏ Ceoltas and musical heritage ❏ Literary heritage ❏ Strong community spirit ❏ Range of activities on offer ❏ Only island town in Ireland ❏ Water bodies with developed tourism product ❏ Hidden histories in places like Glenelly Valley ❏ The Geopark and its natural surroundings ❏ Cross border partnership working is strong ❏ Local produce food & drink offering is diverse ❏ High occupancy of hotels ❏ Welcoming, friendly nature of local people ❏ The Marble Arch Caves ❏ Sperrins AONB ❏ Family friendly attractions suitable for lockdown and post covid vacationing ❏ Safe on water experiences for all ages and stages ❏ Lakeside vistas. ❏ To tell the stories of the history of The Sperrins ❏ ‘People have always left here’ - the diaspora, the Scotland-Irish connection, and migration stories ❏ To go green and address climate change ❏ To develop better access to the area and getting around the area ❏ Development of the ‘Untapped ‘Have a go’ activities ❏ Package and promote water activities ❏ Instagrammable vistas and views ❏ To develop the two towns through place shaping process ❏ To develop Sperrins Partnership into formal management body ❏ Draw traffic from the Wild Atlantic Way ❏ The unexplored corners of Garrison, Lough Melvin and Lisnaskea ❏ Alternative options of accommodation ❏ Green credentials for visitors and operators ❏ Better promotion of what is existing ❏ Covid response and recovery - the staycation and the coming home visitors. ❏ Heart of Ancient Ulster ❏ Geopark Development Plan ❏ New funding streams ❏ Apathy of the business community ❏ Lack of understanding of the role of public bodies in developing tourism here ❏ Regional infrastructure decisions ❏ Lack of agreed targets regionally for climate change ❏ Increased uncertainty as a result of covid ❏ Pressure on natural resources due to over-consumption ❏ Lack of accurate data gathering ❏ Challenges and obstacles for trading and tourism as a result of Brexit ❏ Perception by visitors of the geographical location - deemed ‘too far away’ ❏ Lack of diversification of accommodation offering ❏ Perceived as ‘the wedding’ district, which overlaps with peak visitor times. ❏ Private land ownership around Lakes and in The Sperrins ❏ Engagement in culture and the arts is declining ❏ Increase in natural and built heritage is at risk ❏ Lack of improvement of deprivation in rural communities XI SWOT 66 Fermanagh Lakelands & Omagh and The Sperrins