Using Tourism Co-operatives as a method for communication of supports for SME’s

By project InnoCom

Published on 04 April 2024

Ireland

Southern

Carlow

About this good practice

Carlow Tourism is the marketing and tourism development company for County Carlow whose remit is to increase the number of domestic and overseas holidaymakers to the county and maximise economic benefits.

Using Tourism Co-operatives as a method of communication of supports for SMEs involves the collaboration of various stakeholders to provide resources, guidance and assistance to SMEs operating in Carlow. The practice involves in person support with a variety of engagement methods.

Carlow Tourism serves as a platform to communicate various forms of support available to SMEs including financial support, training partnerships and workshops, networking opportunities, marketing assistance, regulatory guidance, resource sharing, representation in discussions with Carlow County Council, Fáilte Ireland or other relevant stakeholders while continuously monitoring the effectiveness of support initiatives provided to SMEs and evaluating their impact on the growth and development of the tourism sector in Carlow.

Carlow County Council are committed to supporting the Tourism Sector via an SLA with Carlow Tourism. Carlow Tourism is a tourism and hospitality co-operative of 120 industry members.

The organisation uses various communication tools from industry briefings , networking events , representation forums , working groups , e-zines , social media and networking.

Resources needed

Funding for operational costs for Carlow Tourism is provided by Carlow County Council and paid by way of grant aid to assist with cash flow and project management. Revenue is also generated from a variety of sources including annual membership fee and grants.

Evidence of success

This good practice encourages and supports the success of Carlow Tourism as a method for communicating support for SMES in Carlow. Increase in level of key account holders with relevant agency. The creation of additional employment derived and supported by the continued and additional revenue generated from Carlow Tourism. The length of stay and expenditure by tourists and visitors to Carlow area. Communication success is measured in terms of engagement with events and activities.

Potential for learning or transfer

Carlow Tourism as method for communicating support for SMEs in the tourism sector provides several opportunities for learning and transferability. Carlow Tourism provides a platform to share knowledge, best practices and lessons learnt – it provides training, workshops and other initiatives to support SMEs. The collaborative nature of Carlow Tourism facilitates partnerships tackling shared problems through collective action. The experience gained from using tourism operatives offers valuable insights and strategies that can be transferred across Europe to SMEs in the tourism sector seeking to promote small business development, collaboration and sustainable growth.