In early 2023, Monaghan County Council commissioned the development of a new, inclusive, and ambitious Tourism Strategy (2023- 2028) for County Monaghan, to help address deficits, capitalise upon opportunities, and grow new partnerships within the county’s tourism and recreational sectors. Based on extensive research, consultations and analysis, a vision to underpin the sustainable development of and to realise Monaghan’s considerable tourism potential was identified, and this has informed the creation of a ‘roadmap’ for tourism development in County Monaghan for the coming term.
“The vision for Monaghan is to create a sustainable, engaging destination, which reflects the rich cultural heritage of this border county and its rolling landscapes of recreational opportunity, creativity, and surprising natural beauty. Monaghan will be a destination of choice for those who wish to ‘gentle their footprint’ in the unexplored, providing authentic, place-based visitor experiences to enrich and inspire, while delivering economic benefits across the county.”
By adopting and implementing this Tourism Strategy for County Monaghan, the county aims to become a vibrant destination offering a unique blend of its cultural, literary, and cultural assets to the discerning visitor. The Monaghan County Council Tourism Strategy 2023-2028 can be found here:
Monaghan County Council Tourism Strategy 2023-2028 (PDF)
Tourism & Recreation Forum
Through the consultation exercise for the Tourism Strategy it became apparent that there was a need for a supported, multi-stakeholder ‘Tourism & Recreation Forum’ for integrated tourism and outdoor recreation development to work collaboratively on a partnership basis with the Tourism unit within MCC to deliver on the ambitions of the Tourism Strategy.
A 19 member forum is now in place and this is chaired independently by Matt Mohan (the FKM Group) who gives his time in a voluntary capacity to this initiative. The forum, which meets on a quarterly basis, acts as the conduit for directing, championing and delivering on the key priorities that are set out in the Tourism Strategy for Co Monaghan 2023- 2028.