Plans to boost the number of tourists coming to Ireland from Australia will be unveiled later.

A country music initiative aimed at getting Garth Brooks fans to visit Dublin despite the cancelled concerts, is being launched.

The tourism and hospitality industry has welcomed two key measures announced in today's budget.

The Gathering tourism initiative is hailing its success at the Global Irish Economic Forum, claiming that routist numbers have increased by 291,000 this year so far.

Fáilte Ireland’s hotel survey, released today, for January to July 2012 shows a 14% increase in the number of hotel bednights generated by overseas visitors.

The Joyce Tower and Museum in Dublin is to reopen, with the help of local volunteers in Dun Laoghaire.

Carrick-on-Shannon in county Leitrim has launched a 12-month festival for 2013 to mark the 400th anniversary since King James I granted it a town charter.

Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar has announced that the temporary 9% VAT rate for the tourism sector will stay until the end of 2013.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has criticised what it calls "the guillotining" of capital allowance schemes in today's Budget from the Minister for Finance’s Michael Noonan.

Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar has said the lower 9% VAT rate for tourism products will remain in place next year.

THE tourism sector received a boost with the news that trips here by overseas visitors increased by almost a quarter of a million in the second quarter of the year.

THE Government and police in Mauritius moved quickly to reassure holiday-makers the destination was “a land of peace” as police were poised to charge three men in connection with the murder of Michaela Harte.

The impact of the €10 flight tax on visitor numbers is to be measured ahead of the Budget.

Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin will take part in a video conference with her EU counterparts today to discuss the economic fall-out of the Iceland volcano.

Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen is expected to remain in a Dublin hospital for the rest of this week.

The country’s free galleries and museums welcomed almost 23,000 extra visitors through their doors last year, new figures showed today.

THE French Holiday Centre has announced the addition of a new range of luxury villas in the South of France.

DOUBLE pay rates for hotel Sunday workers are unfair and the issue needs to be resolved, according to Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen who was reacting to a call from hoteliers that Sunday double pay is no longer sustainable.

Minister Martin Cullen was greeted by angry workers this afternoon as he paid a visit to the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry.

Tourism chiefs have to pull up their sleeves to ensure the Shannon region stays on the destination map, it was claimed today.

A cross-border tourism agency must dramatically improve the way it markets the North abroad as a holiday destination, ministers on both sides of the border were urged today.

Overseas trips by Irish people increased by 13% to 764,000 in June, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said today.

MORE than €100 million of investment in tourism infrastructure across the Shannon region was put on hold yesterday due to fears about the loss of the Heathrow link.

REMAKES of classic Irish landscape scenes as promoted by the postcard company John Hinde could see the new face of Ireland on postcards everywhere next year.

The Government today backed plans to brand Ireland as a major holiday destination for cyclists and walkers with a €6m package for projects around the country.

THE runners and riders for the race to be a member of the 30th Dáil have been finalised.

Leading Cork business figures have called on the government to step in and secure the future of Swansea Cork Ferries.

Minister for Tourism John O'Donoghue has said he expects 2007 to be another bumper year for visitor numbers.

The Ryder Cup appears to have prompted a huge boost in visitors to Ireland.

Minister for Tourism John O'Donoghue has welcomed figures showing continuing strong growth in Ireland's tourism sector.

The Dublin Airport Authority is to announce details this afternoon of its plans for a second passenger terminal.

Tens of thousands of spectators attending next month’s Ryder Cup could face transport chaos due to a strike by taxi-drivers, it emerged today.

Up to 1,000 taxi-drivers in Dublin have voted to strike during next month’s Ryder Cup.

The Dáil has heard that legislation to combat human trafficking in Ireland is currently being drafted by the Government.

Dublin Airport Authority was today urged to ensure delays do not plague terminal upgrades as new figures showed passenger numbers could increase by almost a third this summer.

The number of people taking holiday breaks at home has risen.

Minister for Tourism John O'Donoghue was reportedly refused permission to board a Ryanair flight at Cork Airport yesterday.

The wasteful expenditure of taxpayers’ money has reached a new level with the current Government, it was claimed today.

Tourism infrastructure must be developed on an all-Ireland basis to ensure the entire country reaps the economic benefits, it was claimed today.

All sides in the Irish peace process must seize the opportunity to finally shake off the spectre of violence, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

There was a 3.2% increase in foreign visits to Ireland last year, with the figure up 8.9% in December alone.

HIGHER education, health and fuel bills have pushed up the cost of living, with inflation rising in October.

A CASH-STRICKEN independent tourism organisation in West Cork has warned it cannot continue to operate on a “hand-to-mouth basis”.

A TOURISM think-tank’s first report has given an upbeat account of the industry to the Government.