Kerry business owners and members of the public invited to information event revealing findings of local economic research

Kerry business owners and members of the public invited to information event revealing findings of local economic research

Find out how to grow your business opportunities among angling tourists

Wednesday, 12th April 2017: Waterville Lakes and Rivers Trust is hosting an information event for business owners and members of the public in Waterville and the surrounding areas. The event, which will take place at The Sea Lodge, Waterville, on Thursday 27th April at 7.30pm, will focus on sharing results from a recent economic survey carried out in Waterville among angling tourists to the area. The research reveals some key opportunities for business and service providers in the locality.

The Waterville Anglers Survey surveyed 207 anglers visiting the area and found that on average, angling visitors spend €644 per fishing trip or €114 per day. The impact of this expenditure is far reaching across the local community with €451 spent on non-angling items such as accommodation, restaurants/cafés and groceries and €193 of angling expenditure on items such as angling guides, boat hire and equipment.

This daily spend of anglers in Waterville (€114) far exceeds the spending of non-angling visitors to Ireland. Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Facts Report 2015 cites expenditure of non-angling visitors and holiday makers at €68 and €89 per person per day in 2015. The research, which was carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland with Waterville Lakes and River Trust, highlights the significant recreational and economic value of the fisheries resource to the area.

Rod Robinson, spokesperson for Waterville Lakes and Trust said: “Waterville is a popular destination for anglers and this research shows us the huge economic contribution they make to Waterville and the potential opportunity which exists for the community. We are inviting the public, business owners and tourist operators to come along and hear more so that together we can grow our offering around the fisheries amenity.”

Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “Inland Fisheries Ireland was delighted to support Waterville Lakes and Trust in delivering this research project which provides invaluable information for the local community. We know at a national level that the fisheries resource contributes €836 million to the Irish economy annually but this local research also tells us that there is significant value of angling tourists to this community. We also note that the research once more confirms that angling visitors spend more than non-angling tourists and that they visit outside of the traditional tourist season, supporting local businesses and jobs while doing so. ”

The information event takes place at The Sea Lodge, Waterville, on Thursday 27th April at 7.30pm and is open to all to attend. For more information on the event, contact Rod Robinson at Waterville Lakes and Trust via email rod.robinson3@me.com. For further information on Inland Fisheries Ireland and to read the full research report, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie.

ENDS

For further information:

Órla Sheils
Communications Manager
Tel: (01) 8842673
E: orla.sheils@fisheriesireland.ie

Note to Editors:

About Waterville, Co. Kerry

Waterville is a village on the Iveragh Peninsula on the scenic ring of Kerry in the South West of Ireland. The town is sited on a narrow isthmus, with Lough Currane on the east side of the town, Ballinskelligs Bay on the West and the Waterville River connecting the two.

Key Findings from the Waterville Angler Study:

On average angling visitors to Waterville spend €644 per fishing trip, which breaks down as €114 spend per day
53% have visited Waterville for more than 10 years, and 31% have visited for more than 20 years
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of anglers stay longer than a week, 25 per cent staying two nights and a further 24% staying two or three nights
Anglers came from Great Britain (17.5 per cent), mainland Europe (5 per cent), other overseas areas (2 per cent) and Ireland (75.5%).
Anglers from Great Britain stay in Waterville an average of 8.2 nights during their trips and Irish anglers stay on average for 3.2 nights
Nearly half of respondents (44%) preferred to stay in B&B accommodation with 18% choosing Self Catering and 15% staying in Hotels.
The most popular months for angling visitors are June (57%) and September (48.7%) along with July (45.5%), August (44%) however May (40%), April (28%) and October (19%) still attract angling tourism, outside of the traditional tourism season.
Lake fishing was the most popular (87%), 46% fished the rivers and 40% participated in shore angling
84% of respondents fished for sea trout, 76% for salmon and 48% for brown trout.

About Inland Fisheries Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Inland Fisheries Ireland promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland also develops policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling and advises the Minister on same.