Fáilte Ireland has launched a new five-year plan that will "help drive and sustain" tourism in rural areas of counties Cavan and Leitrim and the northern part of Co. Roscommon.

The Upper Shannon, Shannon-Erne, and Border Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) aims to create and develop a sustainable tourism destination across that area of the country, which is part of Fáilte Ireland's 'Hidden Heartlands' region.

The initiative will extend the tourism season and aims to spread business across all parts of the region over the next five years.

The plan was developed in consultation with stakeholders including Cavan County Council, Leitrim County Council, Roscommon County Council, Waterways Ireland, the three local development companies in the relevant counties, local tourism businesses, and local communities.

The five-year plan identifies a range of initiatives that are designed to raise awareness of the destination; increase the length of stay in the area; expand the range and quality of visitor experiences; strengthen the value of tourism to local communities; and "protect the quality, character and distinctiveness of the local environment, heritage and culture", Fáilte Ireland said. 

This includes positioning the Beara Breifne Way as an "internationally recognised" way-marked walking trail, using "destination assets" such as the River Shannon and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Geopark.

The plan will also look to maximise opportunities presented by the National Famine Museum and the National Famine Way to connect businesses and communities with the Irish diaspora market.

The plan will, the state tourism body said, build on a number of existing destination development projects, including the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park, the Shannon Pot Discovery Centre, and ongoing work at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

Commenting on the five-year plan, Fáilte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly said: "This five-year Destination and Experience Development Plan is an exciting development framework that captures the distinctive themes of the Upper Shannon, Shannon-Erne and Border area, and outlines key initiatives which will help unlock the tourism potential of this region.

"It will build on a number of significant capital investment projects supported by Fáilte Ireland in the area... It also identifies new investment opportunities around the Shannon, Shannon-Erne Waterway, and the Beara Breifne Way, as well in the forest parks; lakelands; and heritage and cultural gems that make this region so unique," Kelly added.

"The implementation of this plan has the potential to...grow the visitor economy to create sustainable, high-quality jobs in the sector that will serve to support and strengthen local communities," the Fáilte Ireland CEO said.