A group of international student’s from one of the region’s leading universities have given a presentation to Laois County Council this week, offering ideas, statistics and information about tourism in the County.
International Business students from SETU Carlow presented their findings to County Councillors at the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District’s April meeting last week.
The students from France, Germany and South Korea, joined by their lecturer, Dr Sharon Harris Byrne, were introducing their findings into a study based on the tourist potential of Stradbally.
The study focused largely on rco-tourism, taking much of its findings from comparative research from Shirakawa-Go and Gokayama in Japan.
The research looked at how Stradbally can emulate these areas of Japan in the following ways:
- Showcasing loca food, traditions, and architecture;
- Economically contributing to the wider region, ie. Laois;
- Reducing ecological footprint of the town;
- Educates visitors and tourists;
- Increase and improve community involvement in tourist initiatives in Stradbally.
UNESCO world heritage site, Shirakawa-go and Gokayama is a mountainous region in Japan, famous for their traditional ‘gassho-zukuri‘ farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.
Gassho-zukuri means “constructed like hands in prayer,” as the farmhouses’ steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer.
The architectural style developed over many generations and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter; all made without the use of nails.
The students found many ways Stradbally can seek to learn from their Japanese counterparts, recommending improved links between Stradbally Woods, Blue Way Vicarstown, and the Rock of Dunamase.
Additional research from Italy led to the students recommending Stradbally look at recovering and reusing abandoned buildings for student accommodation.
The study found that this brought renewed vibrancy, economic benefits, and socio-environmental benefits to similar rural areas in Italy.
Reconciling retail vacancies was also highlighted as an important recommendation from the Italian study, as it proved beneficial to both the community and the environment footprint.
The objective of the presentation was “to represent the hard work and dedication” of SETU in carrying out this collaborative project, according to Independent Cllr Aisling Moran.
“The information was only a small sample of the overall data and full picture of the research,” Cllr Moran said.
“In order to get true representation of the whole project I am hopeful that the final phase of the project can be funded, sponsored and supported.”
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