TOURISM, an important source of employment, has been in the headlines lately, especially over the Shannon controversy. This weekend the Rose of Tralee festival is being held.

IT is a little known fact that beggars are frequently charged under the Vagrancy Act of 1847.

THE litany of public sector computer systems running way over budget and proving inadequate to the job required was lashed by the taxpayers’ watchdog yesterday.

The latest tourism figures produced by Bord Fáilte make for mixed reading. The number of tourists visiting this country is up on last year, but the number of people staying here is down.

TOURISM Minister John O’Donoghue won’t impose price controls on the industry, a promotional conference heard yesterday.

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.

Bord Failte have announced sponsorship deals to help push Ireland as a premier golf tourism destination.

AN international power-boating event due to take place in Waterford this summer has been cancelled because of budgetary problems.

The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly has called for a fundamental review of tourism policy following the downturn in the Irish tourism sector in recent years.

GOLF tourism interests throughout the country are hopeful but openly nervous as to what the coming season holds in store.

EMPLOYERS who are heavily dependent on the US market are already counting the cost of the threat of war on Iraq before battle begins.

THE Government will have to offer the tourist industry major financial breaks if the sector is to survive the fallout from an Iraqi war, according to Fine Gael.

The tourism body, Bord Failte, has said that more Irish people than ever are choosing to spend more time at home.

IT was some achievement for Padraig Harrington to be voted Sports Personality of the Year by the people of Ireland.

IRELAND’S rip-off image is unjustified, tourist chiefs insisted yesterday, but conceded high prices are here to stay.

MOST overseas visitors to Ireland see it as a rip-off and it looks like they are voting with their feet as a result.

TOURISM Minister John O’Donoghue said VAT increases in the recent Budget will not affect the numbers of visitors next year.

Bord Fáilte was criticised today for sponsoring a tournament at a golf club that refuses membership to women.

THE National Women’s Council are planning a campaign of protest at the choice of Portmarnock Golf Club to host next year’s Nissan Irish Open over its failure to admit female members.

THE Ryder Cup at the K Club in Co. Kildare in 2006 will be, in the words of its champion Dr. Michael Smurfit, “the biggest single sporting event in this island’s history”.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON last night revealed that he will leave nothing to chance in his all-out bid to lead the European PGA Tour order of merit this year.

SPORTS Minister John O’Donoghue last night threw the Government’s weight behind attempts to keep golf’s Irish Open afloat next year.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN will be the star attraction in Loughrea tomorrow when the Great Ireland Run - a five mile road race - will be sponsored by Bord Fáilte’s International Sports Tourism Initiative and will attract 1,000 runners, joggers and fun runners from Ireland and overseas.

BORD FÁILTE has offered an all-expenses-paid holiday to nine Israelis who were refused accommodation in a four-star holiday home because of their government’s treatment of Palestinians.

Bord Failte has offered a free holiday to an Israeli citizen whose request for accommodation in Co Kerry was rejected because of the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli government.

Mount Juliet

ITALIANS definitely do it better. Not alone did they prove they were king of the waters in the weekend Formula One Grand Prix of powerboating in Ireland, scooping first and second place.

AS the Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Championship enters the final third of the season at Oulton Park this weekend, results are becoming more crucial.

Bord Failte has welcomed the news that a low cost pier at Dublin Airport should proceed as soon as possible.

Fine Gael has launched a stinging attack on Fianna Fail for snubbing a debate on the state of the tourism industry following the September 11th attacks in the United States.

National Parks are re-opening to the public today as part of a campaign to assist in the recovery of the £4bn tourist industry as a result of the foot-and-mouth crisis.