Fears are growing that strike action could hit Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports just before St Patrick's weekend.

The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation is calling on Aer Lingus pilots not to go ahead with their planned strike action this Tuesday.

IRELAND had one million fewer visitors in the past year but tourist numbers are expected to pick up over the coming 12 months.

Rising prices and the overcrowding at Dublin Airport are two major obstacles to the future growth of our tourist industry, according to the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation today.

Job levels were maintained in the tourism sector in the last year, despite a spate of setbacks for the industry, according to a survey by CERT, the tourism training agency.