Big green tourism success for Northern Ireland

Brainchild spawns 600% increase in green tourism awards

102 tourism businesses in County Down have now won green tourism accreditations, boosting the number throughout Northern Ireland by over 600%.

Local authorities were successful in securing funding for the development and implementation of a Green Tourism Programme to help businesses gain green accreditation, either, Bronze, Silver or Gold and to promote the area as a green destination, appealing to the new eco-savvy holidaymakers and tour operators.

The project was the brainchild of local government officers from Newry, Mourne  and Down District Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, Northern Ireland who attracted funds under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for NI, financed through European Structural Funds by Invest NI. 

The local authorities aim to differentiate the Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion and Strangford Lough tourism destinations by having many businesses accredited and promoting themselves along with the area’s natural attributes. A major tourism marketing campaign is being implemented.

An intense workshop and advisory programme has now resulted in 102 businesses across County Down winning an award. There are 18 Gold awards, 36 Silver and 48 Bronze. Another 15 tourism businesses are awaiting accreditation. The awards are recognised by Tourism Northern Ireland.

Award-winning businesses range from self-caterers, Bed & Breakfasts, Visitor Attractions to Visitor Information Centres.

A local spokesperson said: "This is a massive boost for tourism in the area, giving us a major competitive edge and making sure our visibility and reasons to visit are at the front of visitors’ minds.

 "Our plan has been to link our green businesses with the quality of the area’s natural environment making us a prominent destination."

Sally King, Owner Manager of the 6 bedroom 4* Bed & Breakfast Dunnanelly Country House at Crossgar is the winner of a Gold Green Award. Sally said:

"We are delighted to have been given a Gold Award by Green Tourism which shows our guests that we care passionately about helping our environment without compromising their comfort or pleasure."

Life Adventure Centre at Castlewellan won a Gold award. They offer a range of services from equipment hire to coaching and guiding in a range of outdoor activities such as Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Kayaking.

Martin McMullan, Director said:  "The overall experience of the Green Tourism audit has been fantastic, not just internally and not just through our ‘Gold’ accreditation, but through the ongoing engagement with so many like-minded local tourism businesses. Being Green has always been core to our business and it’s great to see the wider Mournes being formally accredited as a Green destination and getting the recognition that it so rightly deserves. "

A major green marketing campaign for Strangford Lough and Mourne Mountains &Ring of Gullion is targeting the Great Britain markets, with social media links to the Guardian Travel, Classic FM, Facebook and twitter. Many winning businesses have already adapted their websites and been tweeting their award.

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle [email protected]

The table identifies the breakdown of awards by (old) local authority area.

Awards            LA Area

Award Level            Ards            Banbridge            Down            Newry & Mourne            Grand Total

Gold            4            3            6            5            18

Silver            9            3            10            14            36

Bronze            11            10            17            10            48

Total            24            16            33            29            102

Dunnanelly Country House

Dunnanelly Country House offers a peaceful sanctuary away from the madding crowds in the heart of beautiful County Down, with 6 beautifully designed, furnished and equipped bedrooms and bathrooms. The Dining Room can be hired (with or without bedroom accommodation) for small conferences and Dunnanelly also offer special occasion ‘Afternoon Teas’ in the winter months.

Green Tourism is very much part of our ethos: we have always been keen on re-cycling, food miles and trying to protect the environment, with home-made or locally source food, biomass boiler, underfloor heating, solar panels and low-energy light bulbs.

Dunnanelly Country House (Sally King, Owner Manager) 26 Rocks Chapel Road, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 9BA

Tel:            07712 779085

[email protected]

Life Adventure Centre

The company won Gold and the citation emphasized "this overall outstanding business with potential to help create real green tourism experiences in the wonderful Mourne Mountains and environs." Gaining Green accreditation, and in particular Gold, helps the company to convey to customers and the wider industry the investment made to ensure that they both meet and exceed best practice.

"Customers will continue to benefit from the knowledge that what they undertake with us is delivered in a responsible and sustainable approach and that ultimately getting involved in adventure sports doesn’t have to cost the earth."

Life Adventure Centre (Martin McMullan, Director), The Grange Yard, The Forest Park, Castlewellan, County Down

02843 770714/ 07710 600586

[email protected]