Champions of the Irish welcome

The hunt is on to find the person or persons who best represent the values of the raditional welcome in the Irish tourism business. Developed by Bord Fáilte in consultation with the industry, the Irish Welcome Awards recognise Ireland's tourism champions who have made the traditional Irish welcome and the Céad Míle Fáilte so famous the world over.

Given recent criticisms about the cost of living in this country, the awards scheme will help focus attention on more pleasant aspects of the business. Nomination for the Irish Welcome Awards is open to all those working in Irish tourism, as well as to people from any walk of life deemed to have gone that extra mile and deliver more than just a mile to make the traditional Irish welcome special to visitors from both home and abroad. Nomination forms are currently being distributed through tourist offices nationwide, as well as being distributed through main visitor attractions and shops, hotels, restaurants and accommodation providers. Nominations will also be accepted on-line at www.bordfailte.ie.

THE Magic Collection, from the Specialists Holiday Group, has been tailor-made for the Irish market for the first time. The group includes tour operators American Holidays,Crystal and Tropical Places, and has begun to push Madeira, Andalucia, Gran Canaria, Ischia and Cascais.

The Italian programme features Tuscany, Sorrento, Sicily, Sardinia, the Lades, Venice and Capri to name a few. Apart from the delights of wining and dining, the company offers sideshows for holidaymakers to visit the opera in the romantic city of Verona, relaxing breaks on the sandy beaches of Sicily and Sardinia or in the contrasting landscapes of Lake Garda.

Those planning on getting married this year could take the plunge in Italy as well. Packages include the ceremony, all administration, documentation, consular fees, wedding licence and marriage certificates as well, of course, as flights and accommodation. Although all wedding ceremonies will be in Italian, there can be no excuses or escape clauses later as interpreters are provided!

IT'S hard to understand why, but Spain, or part of it at least, appear to be suffering from the same problem as Ireland: a glaring lack of tourists. The prices are at least 30% lower in Marbella near Malaga (an area once noted as a rip off), the weather is certainly better (where isn't!), the locals are friendly and there are no lager louts (English, German or Irish). Check out the Apart hotel, aptly named the Princesa Playa, right on the beach. Topflight might have it in their brochure next year. In the meantime they could make the booking for you or it can be accessed direct on the internet.