Professional and Technical, Administrative, Culture and Recreation
Tourism Officer
€55,022 - €71,529
Annual Salary
Galway
Permanent and/or Temporary
Job Summary
EXTENDED Closing Date for Receipt of applications is 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 8TH JUNE 2023
The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel from which permanent and/or temporary vacancies may be filled for the position of Tourism Officer.
Local Authorities have a significant role and function in relation to economic development, from physical planning & development services to direct investment in roads, water, recreation, enterprise, tourism, heritage and cultural assets and working with all stakeholders.
Galway County Council as the Local Authority for the Galway County area plays a pivotal role in the development of Tourism regionally and nationally. An enhanced role for Local Authorities in Tourism has been set out by Government since 2015 in the Tourism policy, People, Places and Policy, Growing Tourism to 2025. This builds on the role local authorities have played for decades but brings a greater focus on Tourism and ensuring that it is central to the enhanced economic and community development role envisaged in the local government reform programme 2014.
Galway County Council functional area is home to the Wild Atlantic Way as well as a significant portion of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands in the east of the county. Galway County is also contiguous with the municipal area of Galway City, a tourism hotspot nationally, and renowned for international cultural festivals and events. The Council aims to use these geographical and brand strengths as opportunities to disperse visitor numbers across the County, supporting investment in products, experiences and services, to attain longer visitor stay and spend. This will be achieved by working in partnership with Galway’s tourism industry and networks, communities and key stakeholders.
Based on the extraordinary natural beauty and cultural assets, including the largest Gaeltacht in Ireland, the Council recognises the importance of tourism in the life and economy of the county, in the context of job creation and supporting local enterprise development. Tourism can ensure the sustainability of towns and villages a key priority of the Council, contributing to the conservation of built and natural heritage, while increasing revenues to the County. A key economic and cultural objective of this Council is that Galway develops as a world-class visitor destination offering incredible and authentic cultural and environmental experiences. As one of the most scenic and culturally rich Counties on the Western edge of Europe, Galway is a highly desirable place to live, work and visit.
Galway County Council is committed to working in partnership with all key stakeholders including communities, education & training institutions, the public and private sectors to manage Galway’s reputation and brand, to support innovation, develop capacity within the industry and within communities and to deliver sustainable tourism experiences and products across Galway County.
Galway County Council has worked to develop sustainable tourism products, infrastructure and support festivals which build on our significant environmental, natural resources, food and cultural assets and products that increase the competitiveness of all parts of the County in Tourism. The Council has led a number of initiatives and built strong collaborative models in pursuance of key corporate objectives of building a strong economic, social and cultural environment which is sustainable. Examples include the role played in development and implementation Visitor Experience Development Plans with Failte Ireland and a range of stakeholders, as well as the lead role in gaining designation as the European Region of Gastronomy in 2018 and partnering in the European Capital of Culture 2020.
To progress its role in Tourism and to leverage Tourism as a key economic driver across the County, Galway County Council is employing a Tourism Officer to work across the Council’s Directorates and with key stakeholders in the industry, Galway City Council & neighbouring local authorities, Fáilte Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Waterways Ireland, OPW, NPWS, GRETB, ATU, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Tourism Ireland and local communities to name a number of key stakeholders from a non-exhaustive list.
Galway County Council is currently working on the final stages of a Draft Tourism Strategy for Galway which will cover the period up to 2030.
The scope of the Strategy is to provide;
- An integrated and sustainable County tourism strategy to guide the future development, integration and growth of the tourism sector across County Galway, encompassing all areas of the county outside of the municipal limits of Galway City.
- To incorporate tourism sustainability; economic and community development; product development; and proposals to incorporate branding and marketing objectives.
- Address the requirement of relevant environmental assessments for a statutory policy document of this type.
- Provide a clear and actionable roadmap for implementation of the Tourism Strategy to enable integrated and sustainable growth of sector.
The strategy will focus on destination management, experience development, capacity & skills and marketing & communications. In delivering the strategy, the Council will:
- Increase visitor numbers and the value of tourism to Galway and the West of Ireland;
- Work in partnership with others and support innovation;
- Maximise the value of the County’s existing and planned infrastructure to support Tourism and enhance the visitor experience.
- Support expanding or emerging tourism businesses to create excellent products and visitor experiences and attract investment and skilled labour;
- Support our communities – instilling pride, a strong sense of place and showcasing our unique heritage and culture, land and seascapes;
- Guide, develop and provide sustainable world-class products and experiences relevant to the market and Galway’s communities;
- Successfully manage Galway’s reputation, marketing the experience of Galway, and highlighting why it is different;
- Build on opportunities to develop Tourism in Galway and the West region by maximising opportunities presented under the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brands
Each Candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:
- Hold a professional qualification at degree level (level 8 NFQ) or above in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Tourism Development;
- Economic, Community or Rural or Cultural Development;
- Marketing / Business / Enterprise;
- Or related discipline.
- Have a minimum of 5 years relevant post-graduate experience in marketing, tourism or related area of Economic Development, Culture, Planning, Rural or Community Development;
- Candidates must possess a current unendorsed full driving licence (Category B) and have access to his/her own car
FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE CANDIDATE INFORMATION BOOKLET ON OUR WEBSITE.
Contact Details
Human Resources Department
Áras an Chontae
Prospect Hill
Galway
H91 H6KX
091509303
hr@galwaycoco.ie
