Falling tourism cause of concern

DECLINING tourism in the regions was a major cause of concern, the incoming president of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC), Catherine Reilly, said yesterday.

ITIC is in the process of finalising a major report into the problems facing the regions and “some of what we are unearthing is not pleasant”, she said.

Ms Reilly was addressing guests at a lunch in Dublin following her inauguration.

Using bednights as the measure of how the regions are doing suggest a massive shortfall in this area.

The number of nights spent by holiday visitors outside of the capital in 2003 was 2.7 million fewer than in 1999, a 14% drop in demand, she said.

By contrast Dublin attracted two million more bednights.

But due to the serious shortfall in the regions, the overall result is a sharp drop in bednights nationally, she said.

Despite the negatives, Ms Reilly said the overall outlook for international tourism and for visitors to Ireland was positive. However, she said Ireland would have to fight for its share of the growing world tourism market.

On other matters, she said ITIC was particularly looking forward to the introduction of the new national consumer agency.