TWO Belfast-based entrepreneurs have launched a new £9 million alternative tourism business, aimed at the Irish and UK markets.
Peter Farquharson and David Maxwell launch further.space at today's Northern Ireland Leisures Show at Balmoral Park.
The new company has been set up to to co-ordinate the provision and installation of design-led pods as tourist accommodation in unique and unexpected locations.
The Belfast start-up aims to establish up to 100 micro tourism joint venture partnerships throughout the UK and Ireland. It also has lofty ambitions to deploy 500 pods in hand-picked locations over the next five years, in partnership with landowners seeking to maximise the potential of their land through tourism.
Each pod is forecast to deliver an annual revenue of £18,000 per year, with 500 pods over five years estimated to generate a total revenue of £9m. A partnership with four pods on site will generate an annual revenue of £72,000 per year and £360,000 over five years.
Former founder of Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland and CEO of further.space, Peter Farquarson hopes to take advantage of the growing tourism industry with his unique concept.
"Whilst it is well documented that the tourist industry is one of the biggest growth industries in Ireland and the fifth biggest industry in the world, often some of our most attractive natural landscapes suffer from accommodation shortages limiting local potential to access the tourist pound," he said
"Our vision is to empower landowners in spectacular off-the-beaten-track locations to create profitable, sustainable and low maintenance micro tourism businesses on their land, that has both societal and economic benefits for the entire area.”
COO of further.space, and energy efficient housing entrepreneur, David Maxwell added: “Our research shows that landowners are attracted by the opportunity to diversify into tourism, however the process of establishing a tourism business on their land is often limited by financial or logistical impediments. The unique further.space joint venture business model means we can provide financial support, planning expertise and booking systems to deliver bed nights. This allows our partners to concentrate on the experience, by hosting the guests and managing housekeeping and maintenance of the pods on their land. The model is designed to deliver security and a long-term opportunity to capitalise on a burgeoning tourist industry.”
Further.space is the sister company of Intupod, who manufacture multi-purpose aluminium structured pods in Belfast. Further.space is the customer facing business that will establish a select network of joint venture business partners with landowners and existing tourism ventures in hand-picked locations.
