8.6 | Role of Tourism
Tourism has a key role in both the economy and Quality of Life of residents, workers and visitors. Cork City Council and Cork County Council have prepared a joint strategy integrating assets and initiatives to diversify and drive the role of a vibrant tourism sector under the Pure Cork brand and Growing Tourism in Cork, A Collective Strategy.
significant heritage, tourism, recreation amenity assets in Metropolitan Cork which complement the assets of the city including access to the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Maritime Paradise, Harbour Greenway Blarney Castle, close access to Kinsale Fota Wildlife Park, Spike Island (2017 European No 1 Tourist Attraction), Fort CamdenMeagher, Midleton Distillery, Cobh Heritage Centre, walkways, cycleways. The potential to develop a greenway linking Midleton to Youghal along the railway corridor, (without precluding future options for re-use of that corridor for rail), has potential for inter-regional greenway connectivity. River valleys, mountain ranges, extensive coastline, beaches, all within or easily accessible to the metropolitan area.
Section 2.0 of the Cork MASP has highlighted the strong urban tourism and culture assets of the City. There are
Cork MASP Policy Objective 15
c. Support the delivery of large-scale all year-round tourist attraction(s) in Cork City and in County Metropolitan Cork. d. Value and support cultural amenities, conservation, protection and enhancement of Cork City’s natural heritage as key assets to attract tourism. e. Seek sustainable tourism development which reflects the city’s distinctive history, culture and environment. f. Promote diversification and innovation in the tourism sector. g . S e ek an i n t e g ra t ed app r oa ch t o t ou r i sm development in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders including state agencies, communities and stakeholders in the tourism sector.
Cork MASP Tourism a. Support the role of Metropolitan Cork’s tourism assets as a significant domestic and international tourism destination capitalising on its tourism attractions, Ireland’s Ancient East corridor, Wild Atlantic Way Corridor, Ireland’s Maritime Paradise theme and support initiatives creating a sustainable tourism future, diversifying the tourism product into non-traditional areas and extending the tourist season taking particular care of the natural and built environment. b. The SRA seeks investment in the sustainable development of tourism infrastructure and tourism services across Cork and support initiatives arising from the Pure Cork brand and the “Growing Tourism in Cork: A Collective Strategy subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process.
8.7 | Role of Retail
The Cork MASP recognises the importance of a Cork City and County joint retail strategy and the need for a holistic future assessment of the retail needs for a growing metropolitan area between both local authorities with a changed retail context. The Cork MASP recognises that retail is a significant part of the metropolitan economy through the high level of employment generated and the contribution to the life, vitality and attractiveness of the Metropolitan Area. The retail sector in Cork faces the same challenges as
other cities in combating the negative impact of online shopping on the city centre and other retail locations in the metropolitan area. The Cork MASP also recognises the importance of the tourism sector, with retail services contributing to the attractiveness of a location for tourists and tourist visitors increasing footfall and potential increased vibrancy for the retail sector. The Cork Metropolitan Area is a priority location for retail services within the Region. It is important that future provision of retail reaffirms the hierarchy of retail locations with the city centre at the heart of the metropolitan area, a Tier 1 location.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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