Galway City is at the heart of the most significant tourism initiative in Ireland thanks to the roll out of the Wild Atlantic Way. One of the few urban areas of consequence on this internationally leading trail it plays an essential role in underpinning incomes across the West Coast as well as being a tourism location of critical importance, nationally and internationally.

To date the City Council has managed to sustain a wide range of tourism related services and amenities, however with an increasing demand on said services and amenities the City has taken the initiative to strategically plan for the future of tourism in the City.

The City itself is a unique Medieval City with an international reputation for its streetscapes, cultural offering and, as acknowledged above, a uniquely bi-lingual environment which fosters Irish language heritage and Irish culture. The city attracts visitor segments such as the ‘culturally curious’ and the ‘great escaper’ and increasingly visitors are discovering Galway City as a destination for great food.

Galway City’s tourism sector is a major economic activity within the local economy which continues to grow year on year. In 2019, Galway City had 1.7 million overseas visitors generating €589 million in revenue. Galway City was voted Europe’s friendliest city in the Condé Nast Traveller Reader Travel Awards 2020 and has been awarded the “Purple Flag” as a safe and family friendly city by night every year since 2015 with Salthill also designated in 2023. It was the most visited place in Ireland outside of Dublin. In addition, 1 million domestic visitors generated €247 million for the local economy. It is estimated that 12-14% of businesses in Galway City are involved in tourism. Galway City is known for its vibrant cultural and hospitality sectors which form the basis of the city’s nighttime economy. The food sector also makes a significant contribution to the overall tourist experience.

The City Council has adopted a tourism strategy covering 2020 to 2025. The investment by the City Council in this strategy is indicative of the priority for the City Council in developing it’s tourism product and represents a clear effort on the part of the City Council to build upon the success of the City's tourism sector. The Strategy focused on building the City into a world class destination, uniquely located on Ireland’s west coast along the Wild Atlantic Way, at the edge of Europe.

Subsequently, in the Galway City Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) 2025-2029, a multi-stakeholder approach focused on growing the economic value of tourism and increasing the length of stay in the city was jointly prepared by the Galway City Council and Fáilte Ireland.

The DEDP highlights the fact that Galway City is the third most visited city in the Republic of Ireland and, as noted above, It operates as a visitor hub for Galway City and is an access point to the Wild Atlantic Way. The city destination is strongly associated with festivals and events animated by a calendar of events that appeals to a diverse range of visitor audiences.

Galway City Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Head of Tourism. Galway City Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post of Head of Tourism (5 Year Contract) (analogous to Grade VIII) from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This panel will exist for 12 months.

The Head of Tourism is a new key senior management position within the City Council and is assigned to a service delivery area or to support a functional area as required. The Head of Tourism will work under the direction and management of the Director of Urban Development or analogous grade or other employee designated by the Chief Executive as appropriate.

The Head of Tourism will work as part of the Directorate’s senior management team and will oversee the implementation of the City’s plans and projects and to support engagement substantively with the wider public authority environment as well as key tourism stakeholders across the City.

The duties and responsibilities to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require:

The Head of Tourism will report directly to, and support, the Director for Urban Development. They will have the following tourism specific responsibilities at a senior management level:
 

• Managing the internal tourism affairs of the Council within the framework of the Corporate Plan and Management Team Objectives.
• Ensuring that the Council progresses implementation of the Galway City Tourism Strategy in partnership with key stakeholders.
• Managing external relationships across a broad range of business activities, i.e. Galway Tourism, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Bord Fáilte, the relevant State and semi-state Agencies, Shannon Heritage, Shannon Group, local tourism interests, other stakeholders, etc.
• To lead and direct the resources of the Tourism Department staff team to deliver their work programme.
• Development of investment proposals in the Galway City tourism product and management of local and international funding opportunities to ensure continued investment in the tourism package in Galway City.
• To drive and develop the marketing of the City in line with the broader Corporate approach.
• Building capacity and animation on tourism in the City in line with the Social and Economic Development objectives.
• Leading and directing the Council’s tourism social media offering and liaison with the Communications Unit.
• Attendance at relevant events and seminars both locally and internationally as appropriate in order to build linkages with industry and investors.
• Align the Tourism strategies and resources with those of the wider directorate and across the organisation as a whole to ensure positive synergies are generated.
• To determine the nature, level and pattern of demand for the service in the directorate/function and to recommend both service level and strategic policy priorities to the Director of Service.
• To implement the agreed strategies to meet and to expand or improve the range, quantity or quality of existing services and to recommend changes in strategies as required.
• To implement the requirements arising from the “Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government‟ and the Local Government Reform Act 2014.
• To manage and supervise staff up to the position/grade of Administrative Officer or analogous grades and to ensure the training and development of such staff.
• To identify and agree work programmes, targets and deadlines and ensure their subsequent implementation.
• To build effective teams, develop motivation and commitment and maintain sound employee relations and morale as relevant, in accordance with good employment practice and relevant legislation.
• To achieve and maintain the productive association between elected representatives and the executive delivery of the service.
• To develop and maintain relationships with external agencies in accordance with policy and to ensure the agreements to co-ordinate work programmes are implemented.
• To achieve and maintain similar co-operation with local development agencies in accordance with evolving policy on the integration of local government and local & community development.
• To deputise for the Director of Service as required.
• To implement the systems necessary and co-ordinate the resources to support the service. This includes systems to manage finance and budgets and ensure value for money, to provide information on the pattern of demand and activity and to schedule work programmes.
• To manage a portfolio of projects including capital projects and to prioritise and track progress.
• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required from time to time.
• Overseeing marketing of the City from local to international levels.
• Managing/monitoring social media, influencers and bloggers.
• Managing the City Council’s tourism social media and liaison with the Communication Unit.
• Attendance at relevant tourism marketing platforms locally and internationally.
• Building linkages into the local industry and investors.