- A study of over 1,000 holidaymakers in Donegal and Sligo found that the top things they did were hiking and visiting historic houses/castles. The most popular attractions were historic sites and gardens. - Respondents rated the friendliness of locals and natural beauty very highly. The majority said they would recommend Donegal/Sligo, especially for its beautiful scenery, friendly people, peaceful atmosphere, things to do, and history/culture. - Word of mouth, internet, and guidebooks were the most common ways people first learned about Donegal/Sligo as a destination. Most gathered information online from the Irish Tourist Board before their trip.

1. Holidaymaker Study 2012
Is there any one thing about Donegal/Sligo in particular that you would advise other holidaymakers to do or see?
799 people said the following
Q:
A:
Abbey
Adventure Land
Alingham Hotel
Ardara
Benbulben
BoatTrip
Bundoran
Castle
Church
Clean
Cliffs
CoastlineConeyIsland
Cycling
Drive
Dromahair
Dunfanaghy
Families
Glencolumbcille
Golf
Green
Guinness
Horse-riding
MarkreeCastle
Mullaghmore
Mountains
Lotstodo
LoughGill
Music
Outdoors
Parks Castle
Watersports
Pubs
Rosses Point
Rossnowlagh
People
Scenery
Sea
TourAround
Walking
Waterbus
Waves
Yeats
Yeats’Country
Yeats’ Grave
Strandhill
Sliabh Liag
Sligo
Surf
Historic Sites
Glenveagh
Fields
Food
Fishing
Glencar Waterfall
Easy to get to
Events
Drumcliff
Drumcliff Churchyard
Davis’ Restaurant
Culture
Donegal Castle
Donegal Town
Donegal
Coast
CoastalDrive
Countryside
Children
Beaches
Grange
Killybegs
Lakes
North West

2. Q:
How did overseas holidaymakers first
come across Donegal / Sligo?
Top 3 Answers
Word of mouth
Internet
Guide books
44%
14%
10%
Q:
Why did they choose Donegal / Sligo
as their destination?
Top 3 Answers
Beautiful scenery
History / culture
Visit family / friends
20%
17%
13%
Q:
What kind of information did they
look for?
Top 3 Answers
Things to do
and see
Attractions to visit
Accommodation
62%
59%
56%
Q:
Before travelling, where did they
source information?
Top 3 Answers
Internet*
Word of mouth
Brochures
79%
51%
49%
Q:
Most popular internet sites to visit
for information*
Top 3 Answers
Irish Tourist Board
General search
engine, eg google
Accommodation
search
68%
64%
58%
Q:
When in Donegal / Sligo, where did
they get information?
Top 3 Answers
Tourist information
office
Accommodation
provider
Internet
69%
41%
24%
Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West
*

3. Number 1 Answer
39% Own car
Number 1 Answer
48% Hotel
Number 1 Answer
48% Hotel
Hired Car
Private
coach tour
37%
4% Public transport Other
15%
4%
Home of family /
friend
Hostel
Rented
accommodation
Caravan /
camping
B&B16%
10%
4%
Own holiday
home
2% Guesthouse
10%
7%
3%
Restaurant
Café
B&B
44%
24%
11%
Self-catering
Pub
Fast food
take away
25%
21%
4%
Q: How did they get around
Donegal / Sligo?
Q:
What was their experience of getting
around Donegal / Sligo?*
Q: Where did they stay in
Donegal / Sligo?
Q: Where did they eat in Donegal / Sligo?
A:
Q:
What did they think of eating out
in Donegal / Sligo?*
A:
Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West
Transport to and from area 4.53
Transport within the area 4.52
Signposting for roads / directions 4.43
Signs for attractions 4.31
Condition of the roads 4.31
*average score (1=very poor and 5=very good)
Way in which food was prepared 75%
Staff knowledge of menu 74%
Quality and freshness of ingredients 72%
Availability of distinctly Irish dishes 66%
Service 63%
Value for money 59%
*percentage of a “very good” rating given
39% 48% 48%

4. Number 1 Answer
49% Hiking /
hillwalking
Number 1 Answer
48% Historic
house / castle
Boat trip
Golf
12%
7%
9%
Interpretative
centre
Traditional music /
dance performance
45%
29%
21%
Garden National park
Museum /
gallery
Farmer’s
market
36%
24%
12%
Q: What did they do in Donegal / Sligo?Q: Where did they visit in
Donegal / Sligo?
Q:
What was their experience of
Donegal / Sligo?*
A:
Water based
activity (excluding
swimming)
5%
Equestrian
pursuits
3%
Attending a
sporting event
1%
Mountain
biking
1%
Cycling Fishing5%
Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West
Friendliness of local people 4.90
Natural environment eg, landscape 4.88
Availability of things to see and do 4.57
Overall value for money 4.49
Quality of the buildings/architecture 4.48
Cleanliness of locality 4.43
*average score (1=very poor and 5=very good)
48%
49%

5. Q:
Aspects of traditional Irish culture
that appealed to holidaymakers in
Donegal / Sligo
Q:
How did we get the information?
Q:
Would they recommend
Donegal / Sligo for a holiday?
Q:
Reasons for recommending Donegal /
Sligo (those scoring 9 or 10)?
A: A:
Number 1 Answer
72% Irish
music
Irish dance
Irish storytelling
67%
56%
Irish crafts
Irish language
57%
31%
Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West
When: May – October 2012
Where: Donegal / Sligo
1,004 face to face interviews with domestic
and overseas holidaymakers
Who: 59% were first time visitors to
Donegal / Sligo. All spent at least one night
in area. Three quarters were aged over 35.
Two fifths were couples.
?
1004
face to face
interviews
69%
On a scale of 0-10, % who would highly recommend Donegal /
Sligo (score of 9-10) less % those that would not (score of 0-6)
Number 1 Answer
80% Beautiful
scenery,
countryside
People, nice and
friendly
Peaceful /
relaxing
Lots to do
and see
76%
55%
44%
History, culture
Traditional
culture
Great tourist
location
58%
47%
37%
80%
72%