NRRTI
Worth £13.3m, NRRTI is one element of the DARD Rural Development Programme and has provided £2.5 m to assist the South Armagh Area take advantage of the particular opportunities that are presented by the areas natural resources to develop their tourism potential in the context of greater political stability.
The aim of the Initiative is:
- To create a quality tourism product in rural areas with tourism potential because of their natural resources; and
- To increase the contribution which tourism makes to the economy of those areas.
The Initiative is promoted jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the DOE Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) and is jointly funded by these bodies through the PEACE II Programme.
As the programme comes to an end, South Armagh Tourism Initiative has supported 74 projects putting in place the infrastructure, skills and facilities required as a basis for a sustainable tourism product in South Armagh. The impacts will be an enhanced tourism experience for visitors, increased numbers of visitors, increased length of stay by visitors and increased visitor spend in the target areas. These in turn will help sustain new and existing businesses and sustain and create jobs in some of the most beautiful, yet disadvantaged areas of rural Northern Ireland.
The wide range of actions funded under NRRTI includes:
- Tourism development initiatives to develop new and existing amenities and attractions.
- Environmental development initiatives to improve the physical environment, raise awareness and educate visitors about the local environment.
- Tourism related training programmes aimed at improving the tourism experience for visitors.
- Visitor management initiatives to ensure visitors are aware of the range of amenities, attractions and events throughout each of the areas.
- Promotion and marketing.
- Assistance to accommodation providers to develop existing facilities and where there is proven demand to develop new accommodation.
