Tourist industry identifies area for international centre
ITIC say this centre would underpin passenger numbers at Shannon and help develop the Mid-West as a hub for wider economic growth.
ITIC yesterday called on the Government to allocate €1 billion to tourism investment under the next National Development Plan 2007-2013.
The confederation said if Ireland is to reach the Government target of 10 million overseas visitors by 2012, a “sea change” is required in tourism performance.
The chairwoman of ITIC Catherine Reilly said:
“Government has done well from tourism and has the potential to do even better. But as this report articulates, much remains to be done on the investment side if the industry is to make its optimal contribution to Irish economic and social development.”
Ms Reilly said: “The current commitment of just 0.75% of total planned national investment in an industry estimated to be responsible for 4.4% of GNP highlights the need for greater investment.”
ITIC say increased funding during 2008-2010 would be used to upgrade e-marketing capability both for Irish destination marketing and particularly business-to-business marketing.
Ms Reilly said: “The increased funding from 2011 onwards would be to finance a supplementary campaign specifically targeted on long-haul markets. At present more than 80% of Ireland’s overseas visitors originate in Europe.”
The confederation report claims Ireland’s tourism product has become “tired and lacking in verve or bounce for many tourists”.
Proposals would involve extensive negotiation and consultation with the Office of Public Works about sites of historical importance.
The confederation report states: “Ireland’s singularity as a heritage destination lies in its long and well-recorded history. On the demand side it has been shown that culture and sightseeing top the list of overseas visitor needs. There must be a more concerted effort to marry the supply of historical sites with the revealed demand of overseas visitors, subject to the proviso that the national heritage is conserved.”
In support of it’s case for a Regional Conference Centre in the Shannon/Limerick area, the ITIC reports says this would “both underpin the future of the airport and would provide a major hub for the economic development of a region which has experienced difficult conditions in tourism markets since 1999.”
ITIC say a regional Conference Centre in Shannon/Limerick would have a major impact on re-balancing regional growth not only in tourism terms but in terms of overall economic activity.
ITIC says tourism possesses strong prospects for substantial global growth over the period of the NDP: 2007-2013 and that Ireland has already demonstrated the ability to develop and sustain an appreciable market share in this growing international business.
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