Ireland Tourism Consultants
About Planning Solutions Consulting
Planning Solutions Consulting is a specialist consultancy with over 25 years of experience helping organisations develop, enhance, and sustain successful tourism operations.
We work across the full breadth of the tourism, heritage, and recreation sectors — from castles, forts, and heritage centres to forests, nature reserves, country parks, coastal regeneration schemes, watersports centres, outdoor activity centres, museums, national parks, and visitor attractions.
What we do
Our core services include:
- Market assessments – understanding demand, audiences, and opportunity
- Options appraisals & feasibility studies – testing ideas before you commit
- Development strategies & visitor experience masterplans – shaping the vision
- Destination management plans – taking a wider, strategic view
- Business planning – building financially robust, sustainable projects
- Visitor management plan – developing sustainable plans to support destinations which are experiencing high volumes of visitation
A growing area of our work involves helping organisations unlock and development their income generation potential — whether that’s through new revenue streams, improved commercial operations, or enhanced visitor experiences.
Where we work
While we are based in Hampshire, we work nationally and in the Republic of Ireland. We have delivered tourism consultancy projects in the Republic of Ireland and are actively keen to explore opportunities further afield.
You can find out more about our projects here.
Tourism consultancy project we have worked on in the Republic of Ireland include:
- Waterways Ireland: A recreation feasibility study linked to the restoration of the Ulster Canal at Clones
- Monaghan County Council: Prepared a Rural Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Destination Development Action Plan for an area of Sliabh Beagh
- Blarney Castle & Gardens: Worked with the Senior Management Team to carry out a module of primary visitor research and to advise on opportunities to enhance the visitor experience
- Roscommon County Council: Visitor Centre options appraisal and feasibility study
- Fáilte Ireland: Appointed to a Framework Agreement – Tourism Development Strategies for Outdoor Activity Products and Experiences
Added value – experience of managing tourism businesses
Our Operational Experience
Through our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited, we have direct, hands-on experience of managing and operating a diverse portfolio of tourism and leisure businesses — giving us a level of commercial insight that sets us apart from most consultancies.
Visitor Experiences
- CONKERS – a £19 million day visitor attraction in Leicestershire
- Kent Life Heritage Farm Park – a farm experience in Kent
- The National Brewery Centre (formerly the Bass Museum), Staffordshire (2021–October 2022)
Activity & Adrenaline Experiences
- The Cotswold Country Park and Beach – Cotswolds
Visitor Accommodation
- The Royal Esplanade Hotel – Ryde, Isle of Wight
Planning Solutions Limited takes responsibility for all aspects of running these businesses — from staffing, marketing, and day-to-day operations through to catering, retail, events, education, weddings, corporate hire, membership schemes, admissions, and collections management (Kent Life and the National Brewery Centre). We work closely with each operations team to develop annual target operating plans that are ambitious, realistic, and commercially focused.
What this means for you
Our operational experience translates directly into better consultancy advice. We bring:
- Live trading intelligence – real-time insight from actively managed businesses, not just desk research
- Commercial realism – we understand what works in practice, not just in theory
- Operational empathy – we know the pressures and challenges tourism and leisure operators face day to day
- Broader sector knowledge – spanning visitor attractions, heritage, outdoor experiences, and tourist accommodation
This means that when we work with clients, we are drawing on genuine operational experience to help develop projects that are commercially viable, visitor-focused, and beneficial to the wider host community, which can involve education, learning, placemaking or local economic development outcomes.
Testimonials
“PSCL carried out a contract for Waterways Ireland to look at the market potential and sustainable options to restore and develop a waterside site in Clones. I found PSCL to be very competent on this project. Their execution, tone and commitment were faultless. Their team drew together all requisite disciplines. They had particular experience in waterside development projects which provided great insights for our study. They handled consultation effectively despite COVID travel restrictions. They were responsive, and they delivered professionally, to an excellent standard, and within timeframe and to budget.” Norma Forrest, Marketing & Communications, Waterways Ireland
“Planning Solutions Consulting was appointed to develop a tourism action plan for a rural location in north county Monaghan. Despite the challenges posed by Covid 19 restrictions and the impact this had on site visits, consultations etc, David and Richard were unflappable and professional throughout. The final report was delivered on time and contained both a strategic vision and a list of deliverable actions which we look forward to progressing. I would most certainly recommend PSC for similar type projects.” Dympna Condra, Tourism & Economic Development Officer, Monaghan County Council
How can we help?
If you have any questions about our work or would like to discuss a potential project, please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Linington (richard@pslplan.co.uk or 00 44 (0)7866 742628).