Fáilte Ireland targets windsurfing tourists

Fáilte Ireland is targeting windsurfing fans as 40 of Europe’s leading windsurfers come to Brandon Bay, Castlegregory as part of an International Sports Tourism Initiative.

The Fáilte Ireland Windsurfing Triple Crown is being staged in Co Kerry for the third successive year, on May 7 to 10.

The Fáilte Ireland Windsurfing Triple Crown is the first leg of the UKWA Triple Crown Championship, which will travel to Brigbury Bay Devon, England in September and will finish on the Isle of Tiree, Scotland in October.

A TV highlights programme of the Fáilte Ireland Windsurfing Triple Crown, showcasing Ireland’s water sports resources, will be broadcast in 80 countries globally.

John O’Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism said: "Fáilte Ireland has identified water sports as a tourism niche with great potential."

With over 20 million windsurfers worldwide, Fáilte Ireland is specifically targeting windsurfing and related water sports activities as a niche tourism market.

Ireland’s 5,600 km of scenic coastline and hundreds of lakes and rivers offer excellent year round water sport conditions.

The International Sports Tourism Initiative co-ordinated by Fáilte Ireland targets and sponsors sporting events with the capacity to enhance Ireland’s reputation as a leading sporting holiday destination.

Other water sports events supported by Fáilte Ireland in 2004 include the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race in June and the Cork Week regatta in July.