Experience Development Programme

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Call for a NEW Experience Development Programme

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Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council wishes to invite applications from individuals or businesses interested in providing future tourism experiences that can enhance the current tourism offering in the destination. Those interested are invited to attend an information session on Monday, 18th November 2024, 4.30-6.00pm.

  • Purpose: this virtual session will provide insights into an exciting new programme of learning designed to help participants, on a step-by-step basis, to develop quality experiences that will persuade domestic and global customers to visit, stay and return to the Borough. For anyone successful in securing a place on the programme it will be webinar based throughout, on a group learning basis and will run November-December. Further details about the programme will be available from the information session on Monday 18th November.
  • These experiences can encompass diverse themes including Culture, Heritage and the Arts, Adventure & Activities, Health & Wellness, Food & Drink.
  • Format: to facilitate attendance by as many interested providers as possible, the information session will take place virtually via a Zoom link.
  • Participants: please note that this programme is open to providers with no, limited or advanced knowledge of the tourism industry. This includes providers/businesses that have never before worked in tourism, with the potential to deliver a compelling tourism experience or an existing provider/business (already known to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council) that wishes to develop a new experience.
  • Context: the experiences that emerge via this programme will complement a broad menu of tourism experiences that are already available for purchase by the local community and visitors (from the domestic and global markets).

The goal is to further position the Borough as a leading destination in Northern Ireland and the global marketplace. The experiences that emerge via this programme are integral to this goal.

Collectively, these experiences must be of a premier standard that can win bookings from diverse customers from families and solo travellers to couples and groups.

The experiences that emerge via this programme will be:

  • Distinctive to the Causeway Coast and Glens conveying a real sense of place
  • Aligned to Tourism Northern Ireland’s Embrace a Giant Spirit brand
  • Inspiring for global visitors
  • Capable of increasing dwell-time, economic benefits and attract year-round business
  • Bookable online
  • Align with sustainable tourism development and social inclusion

What will happen on Monday, 18th November 2024, 4.30-6.00pm?

This information session will include the following:

  • An insight into why compelling tourism experiences is key for the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.
  • The framework, purpose, and expectations of the programme
  • Outcomes and sample experiences anticipated from the programme
  • Requirements and criteria for progression into the programme
  • Programme dates for the diary
  • A Q&A session

Who should attend?

The programme is open to providers with no, limited or advanced knowledge of the tourism industry. It seeks to introduce fresh Experiences to bring to the marketplace- i.e., unlike anything that is currently available. Examples include :

  • Culture, Heritage and the Arts: e.g., meet a local musician to learn how to play an indigenous instrument or work with a craft designer to create a unique piece
  • Adventure & Activities: e.g., innovative cycling/e-biking incorporating music or food tasting, indigenous sporting experiences, photography combined with adventure
  • Health & Wellness: e.g., yoga in the wild, dawn chorus experiences to learn about wildlife and birds, mindfulness in tranquil surroundings, dark sky experiences  
  • Food & Drink: unique food and drink experiences that share the provenance of the destination  

Programme Criteria

  • You must have a registered address in the Borough
  • You must attend and complete all modules of the programme
  • You must be prepared to proactively promote your new experience post the programme and work collaboratively with the Destination Tourism Team.
  • There must be no obstacles: e.g., the experience cannot be dependent on capital investment or the development of infrastructure
  • The experience that emerges from this programme must be a brand-new tourism experience for the Borough: i.e., not currently available for sale and with a view to becoming a long term, regularly available, established experience.

 

I’m interested! What do I need to do?

1. Email your name and address to caroline@runda.ie by Thursday 14th November 2024 at 5.00pm (date has been extended) stating

  • that you are interested in hearing more about the NEW Experience Development Programme
  • outlining your idea for a new tourism experience

2. Attend the virtual introduction on Monday, 18th November 2024, 4.30-6.00pm to hear more and determine if you meet the programme criteria

 

Note: As places are limited, submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee a place on the programme.