Development and Management of a New Cross-border Pilgrimage Route between Ferns and St Davids and Associated Tourism Products under the Ancient Connections Project

Tender description

Pembrokeshire County Council, on behalf of the Wexford/Pembrokeshire EU funded arts, heritage and tourism project Ancient Connections, wish to contract a not-for-profit entity or commercial company to oversee, develop and promote a new pilgrim route between Ferns in Wexford, Ireland and St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales as well as co-ordinate and market related tourism products. This contract is part of a wider cross-border heritage and arts programme called Rediscovering Ancient Connections – The Saints (abbreviated to Ancient Connections). The Ancient Connections project is a EU - Ireland Wales ETC cross-border arts and heritage project, linking the two regions of North Wexford (Ferns/Enniscorthy/Gorey) and North Pembrokeshire (St. Davids/Fishguard/Goodwick). Lot 1: Pembrokeshire County Council, on behalf of the Wexford/Pembrokeshire EU funded arts, heritage and tourism project Ancient Connections, wish to contract a not-for-profit entity or commercial company to oversee, develop and promote a proposed new pilgrim route between Ferns in Wexford, Ireland and St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales. There will be a strong focus on developing the pilgrimage product using existing infrastructure (coastal path in Pembrokeshire and related attractions in Wexford) as well as on co-ordinating and marketing related tourism products. The budget allocated for this contract is to deliver specific and identified short term outputs as well as acting as seed funding for the longer-term vision for the enterprise. The successful contractor, be they not-for-profit or commercial, will need to demonstrate an enthusiasm to the long-term vision for the project beyond the scope of the contract deliverables and demonstrate what measures they would put in place during the contract period to ensure sustainability and financial independence once the Ancient Connections project ends in July 2023. Key deliverables of the contract include the stimulation of cross-border and overseas visitors to both regions, the creation of two full time equivalent jobs (either through the company itself, or through employment generated directly as a consequence of the venture in related SME’s), route branding, design and dissemination of a pilgrim passport and map, a website and booking system, pilgrim welcome and departure pack, a pilgrim app, delivery of a pilgrim host training programme and networking events, a pilot of the pilgrim product, route development and installation of initial way markers, other signage, promotional events, and individual product elements.