A delegation from the Rathlin Community Development Association accompanied by SDLP MLA Seán Farren and Cllr Madeline Black held an hour-long meeting with Minister Angela Smith in Stormont this week to discuss progress on the Sustainable Tourism Strategy launched last October.
Speaking after the meeting Seán Farren said: “The meeting was a very positive one in which the case was strongly put to have a dedicated development officer in place soon to ensure that the tourism strategy would be taken forward as effectively as possible. The need to ensure that such an officer would have the necessary resources to develop the strategy and to market the island was also stressed.
“The minister informed the delegation that an application for European funding to ensure both objectives was being made and that hopefully there would be a positive result.”
Cllr Black added: “The minister was also informed of the current debate around the ferry service and of the need to keep the tourism aspect to the service in mind when future decisions are being made. It was stressed that her department which is responsible for tourism must work closely with the Department for Regional Development which is directly responsible for the ferry service to plan its future.”
Members of the delegation emphasised to the minister that with tourism numbers growing and some people being turned away because of limitations on the current ferry’s carrying capacity that future needs would have to be met in a more flexible way.
The delegation also raised the need for an early decision on future electricity supply to the island. The minister promised to let the Development Association now about current plans for a supply cable to the island as soon as possible.
The members of the Rathlin Development Association present were Richard Green, Noel McCurdy and Peter Campbell. All expressed themselves pleased with Minister Smith’s interest in Rathlin and her determination to see that the Sustainable Tourism Strategy is progressed.