Management of the Visitor Experience at Irish Craft Beverage Visitor Centres
 

Management of the Visitor Experience at Irish Craft Beverage Visitor Centres

Researcher: Catherine White
Supervisor: Dr Conor McTiernan and Dr Elizabeth McKenzie


An increasingly important element of Irish tourism experiences is the visitation to craft beverage tourism visitor centres such as micro-breweries and micro-distilleries. As of 2019, there were 137 craft beverage producers in Ireland, an increase 105% since 2008. The rationale for this study is to explore best practices in the development of craft beverage tourism at both the single business unit and collectively at a sectoral level. This project contributes to the development of an internationally recognised, authentic and sustainable niche tourism offering that is desired by a growing number of dedicated food and beverage tourists and the culturally curious visitor. The project will benefit not only the craft beverage tourism sector, significantly it will also positively contribute to their host communities.

Funded by: ATU Donegal’s President’s Bursary