The key objective of East Border Region Tourism Partnership was to identify cross border tourism priorities which would advance the economic potential of tourism throughout the region as a whole. The East Border Region, despite its natural assets, was underperforming as a tourism destination with the border being recognised as the main barrier.

The implementation of this project has had a major impact on the region as a whole in terms of integrating tourism activity, identifying gaps and addressing issues of duplication. It represents an effective model of cross border collaboration for the economic benefit of the region. The project undertook to develop the tourism product and to promote tourism throughout the East Border Region across the following key themes

            - activity based tourism   

            - Christian heritage

            - village enhancement               

             - walking and cycling

            - events and festivals             

            - visitor servicing strategy

As part of the visitor servicing strategy the Partnership launched their own website www.enjoyebr.com. This website allows potential tourists worldwide to view the beauty of the East Border Region via media such as informative videos and innovative podcasts. Another element of the visitor servicing theme involved the creation of interactive multi media Tourist Information kiosks. These kiosks are strategically placed at various tourist sites and key points of entry throughout the region.

The success of the East Border Region Tourism Partnership is evidenced through the partnership securing the NITB title ‘Area Tourism Initiative of the Year 2005’. In addition the partnership was nominated for a BT Golden Eye Award and was also listed as one of the Top 50 Cross Border Achievers by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and Daily Ireland.

Contact Details:

Mrs Aveen McVeigh

Tel: NI 028 3025 2684 / ROI 048 3025 2684

Email: aveen@eastborderregion.com