Green Tourism and Events

The Council's Tourism Service is working with tourism businesses, through various support programme, to assist them to become more sustainable. 

Decarbonisation has been the focus of our most recent collaboration with Tourism NI.  Read more: Sustainable Business Pathway Programme

Previous introductory programmes, which continue to be developed, include the Ards and North Down Green Tourism Programme.  Read more: Green Network

All such programmes are promoted in the press, on our websites and via our corporate and visit social media channels.  

The Council is committed to reducing waste at large scale tourism events and has enjoyed significant success in this area in recent years. 

A sustainability checklist is applied prior to each relevant event by the Events team.  Sustainable initiatives are actively promoted alongside the event programme/activity.

Read more about our approach: 

Collaboration Brings Recycling Win for the Council / Recycling at Council Run Events 

See below links for example of measures in place: 

Our key messages include:

Recycling | When disposing of rubbish please use the recycling stations when on-site. Please note, the usual waste bins on-site will not be in use during the event. Please help us continue our sustainability commitment to zero contamination at events by using the correct bin. There will be team members from Recycling on hand to provide advice and help you put your rubbish in the correct bin.

Sustainable Transport | Park and Ride - Available from Millisle Beach car park, Saturday 7 September from 11.30am to 5.30pm. Park your car and hop on our Park and Ride bus service to Portavogie Harbour which will operate on a continuous loop.

                                            Pre-Bookable Event Shuttle Buses - Bangor via Donaghadee, Millisle, Ballywalter and Ballyhalbert, from Newtownards via Greyabbey and Kircubbin, and from Portaferry to Portavogie via Cloughey.

Reducing Single Use Plastic| We're hoping for sunny weather, so please protect yourself with sun cream, hats and hydrate when at the event. Bring your refillable water bottles and use the water supply available at the event.

See live examples via the below links: 

Newtownards Christmas Switch On

Tide and Turf Portavogie - Plan Your Trip