Spot-lit aims to grow the literary tourism sector in this culturally rich region by enhancing capacity in the literary tourism sector and supporting small and medium-sized organisations and businesses to grow, collaborate and better engage audiences together.
In 2019 the WDC as lead partner on the development of the business support programme, designed and developed a comprehensive Literary Tourism Industry Support Programme that will engage with and support businesses to develop their Literary Tourism Business. A series of three initial workshops were held across the region that engaged with over 50 businesses to assist them in the development of their local literary tourism business potential. Following the initial workshops, 5 businesses were selected through a competitive process to participate in the year-long Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme (LT-PIP). This bespoke programme (2020–2021) includes a series of monthly engagement workshops, learning journeys, business advice clinics and individual mentoring supports as well as a product development support of up to €10,000. The focus of the business ideas/product development is for the development of Literary Tourism.
The WDC are also developing a Literary Tourism Performance Model. The model will focus on enhancement and complementary of existing tourism product the Wild Atlantic Way through literature, place and performance.
A Digital App called Irelands Literary West is also being developed that will serve literature associations, organizations and SME’s to digitalize and create content for literature tourism and provide related products and services.
