Sligo and the entire region is benefiting from the growth of the Airport and from the innovative and ground breaking decision by the Councils to partner with the international community based Airport. The strategic importance and value of such critical infrastructure to the region is underlined and reinforced by the continuing passenger growth and I look forward to further growth in 2019 and future years.
Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive, Sligo County Council.
Newly published research carried out by RedC Research, Ireland’s premier provider of research-based consultancy services in Ireland, has highlighted the critically important role the airport plays in delivering visitors to the counties who are now shareholders in the airport.
The research was carried out to establish the behaviour of incoming tourists to the region from overseas with the main aim to establish the benefits that the airport brings to the region and the counties within the catchment region. In order to achieve these research aims, RED C interviewers interviewed departing passengers from Ireland West Airport between the months of May and September 2018. All passengers were overseas visitors who had travelled to the West of Ireland on services into Ireland West Airport.
The research findings reinforced the airport’s position as a critically important economic driver for the region and in particular for County Sligo. Key findings from the report from a Sligo perspective included:
- 1 in 3 overseas visitors using Ireland West Airport visited Sligo as part of their stay
- 43% of overseas visitors who visit Sligo are holidaymakers
- Overseas visitors spend an average of 6 nights in Sligo when visiting the region
Hiking and Cross Country walking were the most popular activities that people engaged in while visiting Sligo (1 in 3 overseas visitors surveyed partake in these activities), with the Wild Atlantic Way and Benbulben highlighted as two of the key attractions for visitors coming to Sligo.
Visitors to Sligo through the airport also provided a boost for local accommodation providers with 47% of respondents indicating they stayed in either a Hotel or B&B during their stay in Sligo whilst visitors to Sligo estimated they spent on average €586 during their stay in the region.
In July 2016 investment was approved by seven local authorities to invest €7.3m in the airport for a 17.5% shareholding. Last week a delegation from each of the seven local authorities visited the airport for an update on progress and developments since 2016. At the meeting the airport provided an update which included:
- Increase in passenger numbers of 5% since 2016 with 2018 being the third consecutive year of passenger growth at the airport with passenger numbers increasing by 3% to a record high of 71,619
- Increase in capacity on UK services by +20% since 2016 Introduction of new twice weekly service from Cologne starting June 1st 2019
- Work commenced on a €15m airport transformation plan to modernise and enhance the airport to ensure the facility will meet the future needs of both our airline customers and passengers.
- Opening of a new state of the art Visitor Discovery Centre to promote Sligo and the entire region
- Introduction of new state of the art digital platforms throughout the airport to promote the counties of the West and North West of Ireland
Commenting on the RedC Findings and the ongoing collaboration with the seven local authorities, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport said “The investment by the local authorities into the airport has been a very welcome and positive development for the airport and indeed the entire region. The RedC research demonstrates the significant benefit the airport is bringing to the entire region and its very positive to see the direct spin off benefits that the Sligo economy is enjoying as highlighted in the RedC report. The collaboration with the local authorities is a very positive example of what can be achieved when resources are combined for the objective of regional development and inbound tourism”.
