Ulster University will be taking a leading role in a new research project examining the economic impact of investing in walk trails and other recreational infrastructure.
Ireland is famed worldwide for its green rural scenery and is home to some incredible walking trails and hiking routes, from Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway trails and Bog Meadows to Co Kerry's mountain and cliff hiking routes. We know that investment in these walks and related recreational infrastructure attracts tourism to the local area, but what tangible benefit is there to local business?
The new TrailGazers project led by Donegal County Council will now explore that question along Donegal's many walking trails thanks to €2.6 million in Interreg VB Atlantic Area funding. The research will be a joint effort between nine organisations from across Ireland, the UK, Spain, Portugal, and France, with the goal of assessing and improving the economic benefit of walking trails.
Ulster University will be taking lead on the "Trail Technology Deployment" aspect of the scheme, taking a cross-disciplinary approach that will link up expertise from Ulster University Business School and the School of Computing, Engineering, and Intelligent Systems.
The business school will examine the economic relationship between popular walking trails and the nearby businesses, while the school of computing will develop and install new technology on each trail. The scheme will collect data on the usage of trails and seeks to improve the ways that walking routes connect tourists to local cultural hotspots and events.
Elaine Ramsey, Professor of Business Innovation at Ulster University Business School commented on the research: "Walking trails hold much promise for tourism in particular, and for wider economic and social development in general. TrailGazers will, for example, offer SMEs the opportunity to come together to examine how best to engage with new trail visitors, and help SMEs develop B2C initiatives that will enhance commercial activity."
Source: Written based on press release
