Donegal is set to benefit from a new EU project that will see the county’s international profile enhanced as a maritime destination of excellence.
Donegal County Council is one of 18 project partners of this new EU CAPITEN project which was recently launched in Rennes in France. This project spans five European countries including Ireland, Scotland, France, Portugal and Spain with the Regional Council of Brittany being the lead partner.
Donegal County Council recently received the positive news that the ‘CAPITEN’ project has been successfully funded to the tune of €3 million over the next three years under the Atlantic Area Programme.
Donegal County Council will be managing the events element of the CAPITEN project and will be encouraging local communities and visitors to experience coastal maritime activities. This will include delivering a viable portfolio of events to attract visitors to Atlantic Area partner regions, enhancing Donegal’s international profile as a maritime destination of excellence, strengthening our maritime sporting activities, providing support for activity providers and maximising the economic, social and environmental benefits of events to all partner regions.
These events will introduce many people to the benefits of taking part in marine themed activities in coastal regions and in particular introduce young people to the benefits of taking part in maritime activities with a view to potentially gaining skills and experience to develop a sustainable career in this sector.
The CAPITEN project will also seek to develop new marine product innovation, environmentally sustainable marine tourism, inshore and sea-going navigation aids, port information points and marine tourism itineraries.
Projects such as CAPITEN provide employment, increase social well-being and increase economic development of coastal communities while at the same time protecting the local coastal environment through the introduction of sustainable maritime activities.
Donegal County Council understands the importance of continuing to develop and promote Donegal as a quality marine tourism destination on the Wild Atlantic Way. Targeted involvement in EU projects with partnership networks across Europe is a vital way of ensuring that Donegal is at the forefront when EU funding becomes available for sectors such as tourism.
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