LEADER Project Case Study
Úna Bhán Tourism Co-operative Society Limited
Purchase of computer equipment to expand innovative on-line sales and develop rural tourism business.
Úna Bhán, established in 1990, is mainly involved in the development and marketing of community based rural tourism in County Roscommon. Úna Bhán provides tourism related services to small scale accommodation providers, craft workers, walking guides, providers of fishing services and others. Úna Bhán is heavily involved in numerous community events and activities. The Co-operative Society consists of shareholders that have their background in tourism products, accommodation, services and craft enterprises. The Co-operative has steadily grown since its formation in 1990 as a community based organisation with a clear focus on meeting various needs of small holders, craft workers, unemployed persons and of those in need of skills development & training. Úna Bhán continually strives to market and promote the development of rural tourism, crafts, local producers and community services in Roscommon, Leitrim and South Sligo. The Co-operative Society has increased community services and activities to promote the development of Rural Tourism and traditional locally hand-made crafts and produce.
The promoters have an excellent track record in terms of developing projects and working with the tourism and community sector in their area.
Project Background
In order to maintain and expand the essential rural community services in Úna Bhán Tourism the purchase of new computers and an A3 Colour Printer are required. The current equipment used in Úna Bhán Tourism is unreliable, out-of-date and not fully compatible with new software and window updates.
Úna Bhán provides the region with an invaluable and unique personal service, providing tourism information and back-up services all year round, supporting voluntary and community groups to provide essential services and businesses to their communities.
Aims and Objectives
Úna Bhán had identified that there is the lack of quality outlets available to small scale art & craft producers to exhibit their talent.
Úna Bhán has designed and installed its own web-site that gives detailed information about the Úna Bhán product and about the general region. The inclusion on the Úna Bhán web-site, of on-site purchasing of local crafts, merchandise and local interest books generates growth in sales in the area.
Tourists who visit the Úna Bhán Region come to experience the life of rural Ireland Úna Bhán Tourism caters to those living away from home, by buying locally produced crafts and gifts on-line from the Úna Bhán Web-site.
Results
Benefit to the Community
A focus for Úna Bhán is to develop effective ecommerce, on-line and social media avenues for promotion and selling local craft products on-line eg Shopify, Pinterest, Instagram and Etsy to expand online sales of local merchandise and small scale craft producers to increase their income by 20%. This will have a knock on effect for the entire community and should bring plenty of footfall and economic growth to the region.
Employment
This project will sustain existing employment of 3 FTE’s and 1 Manager and in time create one part time job. The position will be a Social Enterprise Research and Development Officer. The aim and purpose of the Social Enterprise Research and Development Officer, is to clearly define through extensive research, initiatives to promote social economic and social enterprise development within the community.
Other Achievements
As a direct result of this project Una Bhan Tourism’s main focus is increasing financial turnover and developing opportunities to Increase services to the local community. To support the work of the organization in meeting disadvantaged sections of the community and to build resources and expand social activity based on identified local need.
Innovation
The inclusion on the Úna Bhán web-site, of on-site purchasing of local crafts, merchandise and local interest books generates growth in sales in the area. Many of the craft producers do not have access to selling their produce on-line. The use of the Internet for sales and promotion stimulates growth in the number of people coming to the region and help ensure the viability and growth of tourism within the company and general area.
