WATERWAYS Ireland is planning on establishing a new recreational hub in Enniskillen this summer, followed by further similar sites elsewhere in the county next year.

The proposals for the ‘Blueway’ initiative on Lough Erne have been developed after a similar scheme proved to be a success on the North Shannon and Shannon-Erne navigation systems.

According to Waterways Ireland, a ‘Blueway’ is a network of approved and branded multi-activity recreational trails and sites, based on, or closely linked with, the water, together with providers facilitating access to activities and experiences.

A spokesperson for the cross-Border body said there had been “significant interest” expressed in the provision of services at the proposed recreational hub, adding: “Waterways Ireland will work with potential providers to assist them getting established.”

The spokesperson said it had been decided to take the project forward in stages, with plans to establish the Enniskillen ‘Blueway’ in 2017 and to develop the concept on Upper and Lower Lough Erne in 2018.

“The ‘Blueway’ initiative has been a hugely successful concept on the North Shannon and Shannon-Erne navigations with over 100,000 visitors to the area in 2016,” the spokesperson added.

Waterways Ireland said it hopes that the Enniskillen ‘Blueway’ will be operational during the 2017 summer period.

The cross-Border body said that on-water and land based trails had been assessed, with only “minor adjustments” being required to existing infrastructure.

In establishing the Enniskillen ‘Blueway’, Waterways Ireland has already requested expressions of interest from those interested in establishing recreational activities within the town at a centralised hub.

The organisation said it hoped that interest would be received for water activities such as canoe hire and paddle-boarding, or land-based activities like cycle hire.

Capacity Building Workshops will be held in Enniskillen in the coming months to facilitate the ‘cross-selling’ of products and services, the spokesperson revealed.

“Such workshops will encourage private sector, community and voluntary sector and public sector bodies to work together to create tourism packages/experiences so that visitors to Enniskillen can easily and safely experience the wide diversity of recreational opportunities, heritage and cultural opportunities, and the great places to stay, eat and have fun,” the spokesperson said.

The ‘Blueway’ concept is “much more” than just the provision of infrastructure, Waterways Ireland has claimed.

“Importantly, it links recreational activity on and along the water with accommodation providers, arts and crafts, heritage and culture, music, in order to provide the visitor with an all-encompassing experience of the area and an experience which is easily arranged – even before the visitor would come to Fermanagh.

“It is a collaboration of all sectors of society including the private sector, community and voluntary sector and public sector working together to provide a safe and friendly experience for recreational visitors to the county,” the spokesperson added.