There is growing uncertainty over the future of the tourist office in Salthill – which has been closed for the past five years.
Despite calls from city councillors for the office – located beside Galway Atlantaquaria – to be reopened, Fáilte Ireland believes that with the growth of tourism websites, there is no need for a second office in the city.
The defunct office is located three miles from the one in Eyre Square.
Fiona Monaghan of Failte Ireland explained there is also a complication with ownership; the tourism agency owns the building, but the City Council owns the site.
“Failte Ireland lease the site from Galway City Council… at one point the Council expressed an interest in selling the land.”
According to research carried out by Failte Ireland, tourism in Salthill is mostly domestic. Building from that, Irish people generally don’t use tourist offices at home.
The increased use of technology – with the likes of Tripadvisor offering information online – has left the requirement for two tourist offices in such close proximity unnecessary.
On top of this, the economic downturn saw no work for seasonal workers who had historically worked in the office in Salthill.
The use of tourist offices have been restricted generally to foreign holiday makers and with the main office in Eyre Square, it has been deemed unnecessary to reopen the office.
“The Atlantaquaria [adjacent to the tourist office in Salthill] currently offers a wide range of information for tourists as it stands,” Ms Monaghan said.
But Sinn Féiin councillor Cathal Ó Conchúir stressed “at a minimum, this facility should be open during the summer months”.
“After much investigation of the issue, I have discovered that most of the difficulty with reopening of the building results from the fact that the site is owned by Galway City Council, while the actual building is owned by Fáilte Ireland.
“The Council has made numerous attempts to come to an agreement with Fáilte Ireland to resolve this madness but there has been no satisfactory reciprocal response.
“Many entrepreneurs have come to me suggesting exciting, innovative ideas for the building. With a little imagination, it could double up as Tourist Office as well as a venue for various events and enterprises.
“I am calling on Tourism Minister Michael Ring to investigate this unbelievable situation immediately so that an important tourist venue such as Salthill and its environs can be enhanced by having a proper information outlet,” said Cllr Ó Conchúir.
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