Tourism workshop is real business

REAL business, with bookings being made and contracts signed in some cases, is being done at the two-day Irish Travel Trade Workshop in Killarney, Co Kerry.

The 350 international tour operators in attendance have spending power of up to €1,000 million and some, who are in Ireland for the first time, are taking the opportunity to see the visitor attractions at first hand.

“This is our biggest annual tourism promotion and the whole purpose of the workshop is the 2004 programme,” explained Bord Fáilte spokesman John Brown.

All the action at is the National Events Centre in the Gleneagle Hotel, with tables for an estimated 14,000 one-to-one business meetings spread over three floors.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, John O’Donoghue, said when speaking at the workshop yesterday, he was sure there would have been a 5% increase in visitors this year only for the war in Iraq.

“But, even against a difficult backdrop, we’re still hopeful numbers will rise this year,” he told a press conference at the workshop.

Describing the industry as resilient in the face of adversity, he felt the presence of so many overseas operators at the workshop should dispel pessimism.

“The best research and market intelligence available supports the view that the Irish tourism product continues to be well perceived,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

Tourism is the third largest sector in the economy, generating over €5 billion and employing 150,000 people. Irish people are also important to the industry, taking three million holidays at home last year and spending €640 million.

Marketing campaigns have been stepped up in all key markets, especially in the US.

Suspended prior to the outbreak of the war, it has been resumed on TV and the print media as part of a new €2 million campaign. An extra €1.5m is being spent in Britain and an additional €1 million in countries such as Germany and France.

Tourism Ireland is also involved in co-operative marketing with carriers and the travel trade and promotions include new air services into the country.