New region wide festivals to be launched
DESPITE the combined factors of the current economic crisis and a significant dip in business last year, Failte Ireland is confident that there is still potential for sustaining tourism in 2009.
Commenting on the year ahead, Failte Ireland chief executive, Shaun Quinn said that despite the downturn, people are going to take holidays and there is still a great deal to play for in the tourism market, in the Shannon region.
“There is particular potential in the home market this year and the recent decision by Aer Lingus to reinstate the Heathrow link provides definite grounds for optimism,” he said.`
At a meeting with tourism industry members from the Shannon region, to outline plans for developing and sustaining tourism in the year ahead, Failte Ireland pointed out that by supporting individual businesses it will be in a good position to recover as the global crisis alleviates.
A particular focus will be the marketing of home holidays, expanding its direct business supports and maximising the effect of its capital investment in tourism infrastructure throughout this year.
In the Shannon region, support has been provided for Angling, Cycling, Environmental and walking projects in Clare, Limerick, Offaly and North Tipperary. Major projects include the riverside walk in Limerick City, the Great Southern Railway cycling trail in Co Limerick, the Shannon to Ennis Cycle trail in Co Clare, the Lough Boora Parklands project in Co Offaly and angling facilities on the Nenagh river in Co Tipperary.
A number of looped walks have been developed with the assistance of funding from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, including those at O’Briensbridge, Feakle, Ruan and Carron in Co Clare and at Ballyhoura and Murroe in Co Limerick. All of this work will be built on in 2009.
Announcing new plans to boost domestic tourism numbers, John King of Shannon Development, announced they will launch new region-wide festivals – the Shannon Region Spa & Wellness Experience and the Shannon Region Family Fun Festival and will use these as gateways to attract more ‘mobile’ events to the Region
Other new attractions for the region are the Limerick International Sevens Rugby Tournament for Limerick (for a five year period), the All Ireland and International Dance Championships for Ennis, the International King of Clubs Angling Competition for North Tipperary and South Offaly and the UK Union of Irish Golf Societies Annual Challenge for North Tipperary and South Offaly.There will also be support for the All Ireland Corporate Games, which was secured for Limerick city last year for a five-year period. Collectively, these events are estimated to bring over 11, 000 participants and to yield an estimated 17million euro for the local economy.
On the business tourism side, Shannon Development, in conjunction with Meet Limerick Shannon Conference and Sports Bureau, will aim to secure and sign another 25 events for the region, with a value of 8.5million euro.
Confirming that 2008 had presented some of the most challenging trading conditions in years, Paul O’Toole, Tourism Ireland chief executive, estimated the downturn for the year to be some three per cent lower than 2007, and that while all indicators `point to a more difficult year in 2009, the reality is that many people will still want to take holidays and short breaks.
“This is why we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that Ireland gets its share of that business. We’ve always punched above our weight when faced with major challenges in the past, and remain focused on improving the regional distribution of visitors from overseas”.
He said they will invest 8.5million euro specifically in additional co-operative marketing campaigns.
Particular emphasis will be in expanding the home market to persuade more Irish people to take a break at home this year and to this end, some three million euro will be invested in a year-round marketing programme. Mr Quinn said they will present Ireland to its own people as a convenient, good value alternative to an international holiday and that four million euro will be invested in supporting local and national festivals as an attraction within the home holidays package.
Confirming an investment of six million euro in the form off direct supports for tourism enterprises, including small and medium enterprises, he said they had experienced a significant increase in the number of businesses availing of their support services during the past year.
Another focus will be on upgrading the quality of the country’s key visitor attractions with funding allocated under the National Development Plan and a further 11million euro to complete the rollout of the Historic Towns Project, with grant assistance to develop additional looped walks.
