Wexford has received a tourism boost with the 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse tourist attraction winning a ‘highly commended’ prize in the ‘Best Tourism Project in the UK and Ireland 2018’ award category by the British Guild of Travel Writers at their annual World Tourism Awards ceremony.
The award-winning global travel writer and guild member Isabel Conway nominated Hook Lighthouse during the summer of 2018.
The lighthouse was the only Irish attraction to be shortlisted for the award.
Since that initial nomination, the attraction has undergone a rigorous judging process by the British Guild of Travel Writers.
In nominating the Hook Lighthouse, Guild members were told the attraction is ‘world-class, unique and deserves further recognition’.
Event Manager of Hook Lighthouse Ann Waters said, "We are just thrilled. The entire team at Hook lighthouse are dedicated to ensuring a top quality visitor experience for every visitor from ensuring fun for the little ones to sharing the local knowledge and historical insights and heritage of the 800-year-old lighthouse. This is a real team award. We have been working hard on developing new product experiences and travelling to trade tourism events sharing these with global tour operators for the last 18 months, this work is really paying off and this hugely high profile award will certainly help in this area now too."
In recent years Hook Lighthouse has undertaken a strategic review and development of its tour experience and offering, developing a brand new visitor experience and additional evening and early morning tour and food experiences at the 800-year-old lighthouse.
It is also presently commencing a three-year development plan with Fáilte Ireland and Wexford County Council, further striving to develop its visitor experience offering within Ireland’s Ancient East.
