Millstreet is among 45 towns and villages from across the country being considered for the 2013 Tourism Towns Award. The award, now in its second year, is designed to recognise Irish towns and villages where the local community goes the extra mile to enhance their appeal to tourists.
The top ten “Highly Commended Tourism Towns” will be announced at the National Tidy Towns Awards later in year with the overall winner to be announced by Fáilte Ireland in November.
Now in its second year (Portmagee, Col. Kerry were the 2012 winners), the award will continue to focus on how participating towns have developed their local area in the following key tourism areas:
- Sense of Place– How the town tells its own unique story to visitors, what’s special about it, and what distinguishes it from other towns.
- Local Involvement – How the local community works together to provide an authentic visitor experience.
- Tourism Products Available– What the town has to offer visitors.
- Development and promotion of the town– How the town takes a unified approach to marketing and developing the town into a “tourism town”.
Beverley Sherwood, Destination Development Manager with Fáilte Ireland emphasised the important characteristics of a tourism town and the how the award scheme seeks to recognise them:
“For us a good tourism town is all about the role of the community in welcoming visitors and telling the story of the local area all add significantly to the enjoyment that visitors have.”
“We have taken great care in drawing up the assessment criteria, ensuring that towns receiving an award have enhanced the experience of their visitors, improved their local ‘tourism offering’ and encouraged community wide participation in the development of local tourism.”
The top ten towns will each receive €1,000 with the eventual winner receiving a further €10,000 along with marketing and development supports from Fáilte Ireland.
Visit the new Millstreet Tidy Town website is: http://millstreettidytowns.weebly.com
TOURISM TOWNS LONG-LIST:
| TOWN | COUNTY |
| Clonegal | Co. Carlow |
| Ennis | Co. Clare |
| Kilrush | Co. Clare |
| Kilkee | Co. Clare |
| Mountshannon | Co. Clare |
| Tuamgraney | Co. Clare |
| Cobh | Co. Cork |
| Kinsale | Co. Cork |
| Inishannon | Co. Cork |
| Youghal | Co. Cork |
| Skibbereen | Co. Cork |
| Millstreet | Co. Cork |
| Clonakilty | Co. Cork |
| Castletownroche | Co. Cork (North) |
| Rathbarry | Co. Cork (West) |
| Letterkenny | Co. Donegal |
| Doochary | Co. Donegal |
| Raphoe | Co. Donegal |
| Dalkey | Co. Dublin |
| Listowel | Co. Kerry |
| Kenmare | Co. Kerry |
| Tralee | Co. Kerry |
| Portmagee | Co. Kerry |
| Inistioge | Co. Kilkenny |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny |
| Portlaoise | Co. Laois |
| Galbally | Co. Limerick |
| Abbeyshrule | Co. Longford |
| Drogheda | Co. Louth |
| Dundalk | Co. Louth |
| Westport | Co. Mayo |
| Mulranny | Co. Mayo |
| Murrisk | Co. Mayo |
| Beal an Mhuirthead | Co. Mayo |
| Castlebar | Co. Mayo |
| Moynalty | Co. Meath |
| Trim | Co. Meath |
| Glaslough | Co. Monaghan |
| Cadamstown | Co. Offaly |
| Castlecoote | Co. Roscommon |
| Rossadrehid | Co. Tipperary |
| Cashel | Co. Tipperary |
| Dungarvan | Co. Waterford |
| Ballymacarby | Co. Waterford |
| Lismore | Co. Waterford |
