Fresh approach needed to breathe tourism life into Kerry

KERRY needs a renewed marketing effort to ensure it remains one of the country’s “greatest tourism products” - attracting two million people each year.

Kerry mayor Ned O’Sullivan expressed concern about the industry in North Kerry which he said would suffer by being linked to Cork/Kerry Tourism (CKT) for promotions.

Until recently, North Kerry came under the aegis of Shannon Development.

Mr O’Sullivan called for the establishment of a Kerry Tourism Forum, to market Kerry as a unit.

“Under the new set-up with Cork/Kerry Tourism, we in North Kerry will not be playing second fiddle, but third fiddle. We’ve been sold a pup, but it’s not too late to remedy the situation,” he said.

He said he was unhappy with Kerry’s representation on CKT and felt the county mayor, manager and the mayors of Tralee, Killarney and Listowel should be on the board.

Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue has launched a British marketing campaign to get more English people to holiday in Ireland. Britain accounts for 60% of visitors to Ireland, but the rising cost of holidays has kept some of them away, according to sources.