Fáilte Ireland to increase home holiday promo

Fáilte Ireland is investing an additional 20% funding into promoting home holidays within Ireland, bringing the total spend on home holiday promotion to €3.3m.

The tourism body has also committed €25m to developing regional tourism this year.

Minister for Tourism, John O'Donoghue said today : "Last year, expenditure by Irish people at home increased 16%.

"In the last number of years the domestic market has become increasingly important to the tourism industry, especially in difficult times.

"A key objective is to increase the regional spread of visits and to encourage people to take a break in Ireland during the shoulder seasons," O'Donoghue added.

Chairman of Fáilte Ireland, Gillian Bowler said: "The increased investment will aim to increase home holidays, in particular through the Ireland.ie website, but also to assist Regional Tourism Authorities and special activities and attractions in targeting overseas visitors.

"There are infrastructural issues to be addressed but we have never before had such a high standard of tourism product and I am confident that this increased investment will deliver to the industry in a very real, commercial way," Bowler added.

Both were speaking at a board meeting in Kenmare, Co Kerry today.