Framework for Blueway and Greenway Visitor Experience Development Planning

Tender description

The Royal Canal Greenway is the latest of a range of greenway options available in Ireland. It is a product of scale, the longest of its kind, stretching for 130km from Maynooth to Longford Town / Cloondara alongside the tranquil and historic Royal Canal. It has potential for local / community use as a recreational space, to attract domestic visitors from Ireland, and to cater for an international audience, interested in completing a long-distance experience. While the hard and ancillary infrastructure to enable visitor use of the greenway is in place, there is a need to uncover the story of the RCG and integrate that into the journey, so it resonates with best prospect visitors. With many greenways in operation or development across Ireland, the uniqueness of the Royal Canal Greenway experience needs to be ascertained, and actions taken which would create a unique Sense of Place, establish the RCG as a premier tourism destination, and enable the development of marketable Greenway Experiences. Waterways Ireland leads the Steering Group for the Royal Canal Greenway on behalf of the named partner authorities and will be the contracting authority for this project and invites tender submissions from suitably qualified economic operators for the provision of tourism and design expertise in relation to the Royal Canal Greenway. Waterways Ireland wishes to learn from and build upon the experience gained in undertaking this project as it is anticipated that the initial contract in respect of the Royal Canal Greenway will be the first in a series. Further projects may include the development of a Barrow Blueway and a Grand Canal Greenway and a similar requirement will exist in relation to the activation and marketing of these waterways. The framework which may be established on foot of this tender will set out the terms and conditions under which future contracts may be awarded subject to the satisfactory completion of the initial contract and the availability of funding.