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Usage of Irish Seas and Coastal Ecosystems for Tourism Development (UISCE Tourism)

The overarching goal of the project is to carry out research which will underpin the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth Strategy and the forthcoming National Marine Spatial Plan by describing, modelling and analysing the current state of the marine tourism and leisure sector and by proposing policy measures; thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the marine tourism and leisure sector. The research is framed with reference to the key features associated with an integrated approach to holistically sustainable tourism. With this goal in mind, the project is broken down into 4 key research areas:

  1. Review of Marine Tourism Strategies and Policies
  2. Spatial analysis of tourism and recreation activities in marine and coastal areas
  3. Balancing innovation, heritage and local community engagement when developing marine  tourism initiatives
  4. Demand Models for Marine Related Tourism Activities                 

Project Quick View

Project Start date: April 2020

Project Duration: 5 Years

Funded by: Marine Institute (MI)

Funded Amount: €375,631

What is the Project About?

The project is carrying out a spatial analysis of tourism and recreation activities in marine and coastal areas in order to ensure they are considered in terms of Ireland’s National Marine Spatial Plan. Using business surveys, marine leisure enterprises are being linked to the coastal and marine features that they use to produce data and maps of not only marine tourism and leisure enterprises but also the key ‘blue’ assets, beaches, piers, cliffs, etc. that are used by such enterprises.

The project is also examining, through a case study, local community engagement with a key marine tourism initiative in order to examine what spill over effects are accrued from such marine related tourism projects and the lessons that may be learned to build other successful social enterprises based on ‘blue’ assets.

The project is also undertaking an international benchmarking desk study of popular marine tourism activity locations with similar climatic conditions to Ireland in order to identify possible new product offerings, new marketing approaches or alternative approaches to delivering existing marine tourism offerings.

Project Outputs

Outputs: 

  • Deely, J., Hynes, S., Cawley, M. (2024). A Survey of Marine and Coastal Recreational Tourism Providers. SEMRU, University of Galway and Marine Institute. A Survey of Marine and Coastal Recreational Tourism Providers

  • Hynes, S., Cawley, M., Deely, J. and Norton, D. (2024). Alternative approaches to measuring the value of tourism in marine and coastal areas in ocean economy accounting. Marine Policy 168, 106299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106299

  • Cawley, M., Deely, J., and Hynes, S. (2023). Sustainability in marine and coastal tourism- an integrated approach, Valentia Island. 13th Annual Marine Economics and Policy Research Symposium, Porter Shed, Galway, December 13th

  • Hynes, S., Cawley, M., Deely, J., Norton, D. (2023). Alternative approaches to measuring coastal and marine tourism. 13th Annual Marine Economics and Policy Research Symposium, The Porter Shed, Galway. December 13th.

  • Cawley, M., Hynes, S., Deely, J. (2023). Sustainability in coastal and marine tourism: exploring the possibilities of de-growth. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, Co., 23-27 March 2023 (online presentation).

  • Deely, J., and Cawley, M., (2023). Heritage tourism in small island communities and the need for strong business and social networks: a tourism innovation system. Sustaining, knowing and living the Blue. Coastal communities as places to belong across generations. Trondheim, Norway, June 15th - 16th.

  • Deely, J., Hynes, S. and Cawley, M. (2023). Modelling domestic marine and coastal tourism demand using logit and travel cost count models. Economic Analysis and Policy, 77, 123-136

  •  Deely, J., Cawley, M. and Hynes. S. (2022). Review of the evolution of Irish marine and coastal tourism strategies. SEMRU Working Paper Series, 22-SEMRU-WP-01

  • Deely, J., Cawley, M. and Hynes. S. (2022). Irish Marine and Coastal Tourism Strategies Database. SEMRU, University of Galway SEMRU_UISCE_database

  •  Deely, J., Hynes, S., Cawley, M. (2022). Overseas visitor demand for marine and coastal tourism. Marine Policy, 143, 105176.

Project Members