Topic: Gondola is firm priority for tourist drive in Newcastle (Read 2314 times)

admin · « **on:** November 27, 2015 »

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THE creation of a new gondola cable car ride into the foothills of the Mournes is one of the key priorities in Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s ambitious new economic, regeneration and investment strategy.

The local authority is aiming to work in partnership with other public sector bodies, the private, voluntary and community sectors over the next five years to help regenerate towns and villages across the district.

Enhancing the area’s tourism product is at the heart of the new strategy and the local authority is keen for the area to become Northern Ireland’s premier outdoor adventure destination.

Plans to create a gondola ride into the Mournes as part of a major flagship tourism scheme

are nothing new. The proposal first surfaced three years ago in the South East Coast Masterplan drawn up by the Department for Social Development and the former Newry and Mourne and Down councils.

The new council views the development of the gondola ride as a potential game changer in the drive to help attract more visitors to the area, helping create new jobs and economic opportunities and confirming Newcastle’s position as the gateway to the Mournes.

Plans for the development of the cable-car system, from Donard Park to either Drinnahilly or Thomas Mountains, is based on a similar transport system near Ben Nevis in Scotland.

Councillor Dermot Curran, chairman of the council’s Economic, Tourism and Regeneration Committee, is confident the gondola ride has the potential to provide the area with a significant boost.

“Tourism is at the heart of the new council’s economic development strategy. We have many wonderful assets on our doorstep, from the Mournes to top class golf courses, a stunning coastline, wonderful forest parks and beautiful waterways.

“Developing our tourism assets is vitally important and the provision of a cable car system into the Mournes would allow people to see the stunning beauty of the Mournes and surrounding area. It would be a major catalyst in developing our tourism product,” said councillor Curran.

He continued: “Tourism is our number one priority and we are blessed to have so many wonderful, natural attractions in our midst. The provision of a cable car ride into the Mournes is something worth pursuing and would boost the number of people coming to Newcastle and the wider Mourne area.

“We need to keep pushing the tourism agenda and while we look to develop our many assets, it is also important we look to secure investment for new hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation and help those already working in these two sectors.”

Councillor Curran said the cable car ride and ambitious plans for a new coastal path linking Strangford and Carlingford loughs are exactly the type of positive tourism initiatives which can harness the outstanding natural beauty of an area which boasts stunning and spectacular scenery.

Source:
http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/?title=Gondola_is_firm_priority_for_tourist_drive_in_Newcastle

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