When thinking of Ireland many people might see an image of the ‘green island’ or the ‘smaller brother’ of the UK, but especially Dublin has much more to offer for tourists, who value the city’s attractions and specialities highly.
Dublin is one of Europe’s oldest capitals, encompassing not only historical sites and governmental institutions, but also a magnificent physical setting with the Dublin Bay, Wicklow Mountains and the River Liffey as natural attractions, as well as diverse cultural sites and institutions like museums and art galleries, St. Audoen’s Church and Ireland’s largest church, the Christ Church Cathedral, and Dublin Castle as one of the most important historic sites (Ireland Funds – Destination Dublin 2008).
Today there are just over 1.1 million people living in Dublin County, while the city is able to attract about four times as many visitors each year made up from a wide cross-section of market segments. Visitors are attracted by the elegance of the city, its atmosphere and nightlife, and the ‘craic’ , that make Dublin special. Beside numerous visitor attractions tourists come to visit Grafton Street, the commercial and social centre of Dublin, see the stylish Georgian streets and the graceful terraced houses with their central gardens, or relax in one of the large parks or botanical gardens (Ireland Funds – Destination Dublin 2008).
To keep its position as a successful tourism destination Dublin has to develop visitor attractions that can meet the needs of the varying tourist segments coming to the city. Therefore the city created a wide attraction landscape ranging from traditional entertainment over museums and heritage centres, and historic sites and buildings, to parks and gardens and different wildlife attractions. Dublin provides numerous arts venues, traditional cafes and restaurants, as well as a huge amount of activity attractions and themed walks and trails in the city. Craft outlets and specialist retailers as well as the pub heritage in Dublin and brewery and distillery centres are further attractions. Of course there are also coach tours of Dublin and of its surrounding area provided for tourists (Horner & Swarbrooke 2003).
In this assignment the question shall be answered: how events can contribute to the overall success of Dublin as a tourism destination? Different theories will be used to analyse the specialities of Dublin as a tourism destination as well as its unique attraction landscape.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Theory
3.1 Relationship between attractions and destinations in general
3.2 Classification of attractions
3.3 Special issues for attraction management
4. Analysis
4.1. Description of Dublin as a tourism destination
4.2 Events and festivals in Dublin
4.2.1 Analysis of events and festivals in Dublin as visitor attractions
4.2.2 Importance of events and festivals for the destination
4.2.3 Usage of events and festivals to create a ‘Dublin image’
4.2.4 Challenges in managing festivals and events as visitor attractions
4.3 Perspective for Dublin as a tourism destination
5. Conclusion
Objectives & Research Scope
The primary objective of this assignment is to evaluate how events and festivals contribute to the overall success of Dublin as a tourism destination. The research examines the interplay between Dublin’s unique attraction landscape and its positioning as a major city break destination, utilizing various theoretical frameworks and case studies to analyze strategic impacts.
- The relationship between tourism destinations and visitor attractions.
- The role of festivals and events in branding and image creation.
- Management challenges in balancing local and international tourist needs.
- Economic impact of events on Dublin’s tourism sector.
- Strategic perspectives for sustaining Dublin's competitiveness in the city break market.
Auszug aus dem Buch
4.2.1 Analysis of events and festivals in Dublin as visitor attractions
Festivals and events form a particular important attraction for Dublin. They make visitors come to Dublin to participate in the event itself, but also consuming additional services like merchandising, food and drinks. Festivals and events in Dublin have different forms, ranging from arts and culture exhibitions, about sporting events, to national festivals and concerts of international successful stars (Dublin Tourism - All Dublin Events: 2009).
Long (2008) classifies events into three categories with different implications for the management. ‘Mega-Events’ are of global importance, appeal to mass audiences and achieve global media reach. Their economical impacts are critical as they are related to high costs with an often insecure (financial) outcome. Generally Dublin has no ‘mega-events’ but they could of course apply to host Olympic Games or World Championships to boost their international reputation and support their national economy.
The second category is formed by major events that are staged more regularly but are also unclear about their economical output (Long 2008). One major event that took place in Dublin where the MTV Europe Music awards (Dunne et al. 2007) which were not organised by Dublin as the destination but still contributed to an increase in awareness globally.
Most events that take place in Dublin are based on the festival led approach. This should express local cultural distinctiveness and may show traditions of established festivals in the area. Local festivals rely more on local community participation and are globally seen not as important (Long 2008). One of the most important festivals in Dublin seems to be the St. Patrick’s Day festival including all programmes and side events during the period of the festival (Dunne et al. 2007).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of Dublin’s history and tourism status, establishing the research question regarding the contribution of events to its success.
2. Methodology: Outlines the approach of using a case study format to analyze Dublin’s attraction landscape and the theoretical underpinnings of city break tourism.
3. Theory: Explores the conceptual relationship between destinations and attractions, including classification systems and key management challenges like intangibility and seasonality.
4. Analysis: Investigates Dublin’s specific profile, the strategic function of its festivals and events, and the challenges faced by destination managers in a competitive market.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes findings on Dublin’s attraction landscape and offers personal reflections on the city's future as a tourism destination.
Keywords
Dublin, Tourism destination, Visitor attractions, Festival tourism, City break, Event management, Destination marketing, Dublin image, Cultural heritage, Economic impact, Seasonality, Strategic positioning, Tourism growth, Stakeholder management, Urban tourism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines how events and festivals act as key drivers for tourism in Dublin, contributing to its success as a major European city break destination.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the destination-attraction relationship, classification of tourism attractions, the role of festivals in branding, and management strategies for competitive urban tourism.
What is the central research question?
The primary research question asks how events and festivals can effectively contribute to the overall success of Dublin as a tourism destination.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a case study approach, incorporating secondary research from scientific essays, industry statistics, and marketing reports to analyze the specific context of Dublin.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body addresses the description of Dublin, the categorization of its events, the importance of these events for the local economy, and the challenges in managing them amidst competing domestic and international needs.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Relevant keywords include Dublin, Tourism destination, Visitor attractions, Festival tourism, City break, Event management, and Destination marketing.
How does Dublin benefit from hosting high-profile events?
Hosting high-profile events helps improve global awareness, boosts revenue for the local hotel industry, and assists in creating a "fashionable" brand image that attracts specific tourist segments.
What is the impact of seasonality on Dublin's tourism?
Seasonality is a significant challenge; however, festivals and city break tourism are identified as critical "contra-actors" that help sustain year-round tourism activity.
Why is balancing local and international needs important for Dublin?
Managers must balance these needs to ensure that events remain authentic for the local population while being attractive enough to generate the tourism revenue necessary for economic viability.
- Quote paper
- Silke Specht (Author), 2009, Attraction and destination management. Dublin and its events and festivals as visitor attractions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/232181
