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Tourism Proposals

NEW PROPOSALS for the redevelopment of the region’s beleaguered tourism industry are expected to be launched before the end of the month.

And Stranraer’s “Gateway to Galloway” stature should finally be recognised as Stena Line are being lined up to play a pivotal role in attracting a new breed of visitors to the area.

Foot-and-mouth forced the region’s tourism to the top of the council’s agenda alongside farming this year as it quelled visitor numbers and now the local authorities have responded by drawing up a five-year Tourism Strategy aimed at bringing back visitors in record numbers.

If proposals progress as planned then the west of the region can look forward to an increased number of visitors from Ireland, a market which has never been penetrated to its full potential according to Tourist Board marketing manager Karen Wilson.

“In terms of reaching out to new markets we are close to reaching a deal with Stena Line targeting Northern Ireland. It would be a tremendous boost to reach the Irish because they are a potential market we have never been able to reach due to our budget in the past but the money is there now with the increased importance of tourism this year”, she said.