Business leaders look to secure National Development Plan funding for new visitor destination in Cork

Global attraction can be 'hook that gets the visitors in'

Guest speaker Siobhan McManamy, Tourism Ireland director of markets and partnerships, with Aidan Forde, Irish Examiner, Conor Healy, Cork Chamber chief executive, Rob Horgan, Cork Chamber president, and Gillian Keating, RDJ at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast, the first of 2025, sponsored by RDJ and Irish Examiner, at Cork International Hotel on Wednesday. Picture: Larry Cummins

A drive is underway to secure funding in the next National Development Plan for a new destination visitor attraction for Cork.

Discussions have already taken place among some members of the tourism and business community in Cork on procuring financial commitments from Government for a new focal point for visitors to the city and its environs.

This was one of the talking points which emerged from a Cork Chamber business breakfast held at the Cork International Hotel on Wednesday, in association with RDJ LLP and media partner Irish Examiner. Guest speaker, Tourism Ireland director of markets and partnerships Siobhan McManamy, discussed ambitious targets to bring revenue from tourism on the island of Ireland from €7bn in 2024 to €9bn by 2030.

Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy said a working group has been looking at the future “in terms of Cork tourism and attractions". "I suppose it's fair to say the awareness levels of what's on offer in Cork aren’t as strong as they might be, but equally, perhaps we need something more significant to attract people,” said Mr Healy. “That global attraction, I think it's something we're certainly going to be working along with the tourism bodies to be included in the new National Development Plan. I think that's the starting point. We're all working closely to have that opportunity recognized.” 

Ms McManamy noted cities that aren't capitals gain a huge lift from a global attraction. “Look at the difference Titanic Belfast made to Belfast, because it's the hook that gets the visitors in. A globally recognized attraction just makes a world of difference.” 

The change of administration in the United States hasn’t impacted tourism in Ireland negatively, with the US visitor market now worth €2bn annually. Ms McManamy said in a changing geopolitical situation,  “I don't think we’ve ever had a year that’s tougher to call." "At the moment, it looks good. US visitors have money in their pockets. The exchange rate is in their favour. When they look at value for money in Ireland, they think we're astonishing. 

"We've 28 direct access points from North America now to Ireland. One in 11 US visitors to Europe, visited Ireland last year. We don't know what could happen, but the visitor mix we have is from every part of the US.”

Ms McManamy also said that sustainability is now a real opportunity for Irish tourism, noting 50% of visitors are prepared to spend more on sustainable accommodation and experiences "but they want to be gifted sustainability. They just don't want to put any energy into it being more sustainable."