Cork to capitalise on 2005 tourism success

A NEW multi-agency body is poised to build on the massive economic success of Cork 2005 which was valued yesterday at €90 million.

City manager Joe Gavin confirmed that the Cork Marketing Partnership, set up to specifically market the city, will begin its work in January.

He made the announcement at the launch of a major study on the economic impact of tourism on the city and its hinterland during the Cork 2005 designation.

Compiled by Dr Richard Moloney, the director of the Centre for Policy Studies at University College Cork, it shows that the designation generated an additional €90m for the local economy.

It also shows that:

* the direct financial contribution from visitors to the city during the year amounted to €414m — an increase of 28%, or €90m, on 2003;

* visitor numbers, including overseas and domestic, shot up by 1,005,000 from 2003 to 4,011,000 — outstripping the national average increase of 7%;

* 3,474,000 same-day visitors to the city generated €158m;

* there were over 1.22 million visits to Cork heritage centres with 347,500 of those going to the Crawford Gallery, the Vision Centre, the city museum, the City Gaol, the Butter Market and Bessborough;

* ten festivals, including the jazz festival, attracted 200,000 people;

* they generated €18 million directly and €6.5 million indirectly and supported 100 full-time and equivalent jobs;

* tourists on the 32 cruise ships which visited the city spent €26.4 million and supported 179 full-time jobs.

* conference business was worth €13 million to the city supporting 87 full-time jobs.

Dr Moloney said the city was poised to capitalise on the success of Cork 2005.

“Marketing is the key,” he said. Targeting the short-break domestic market was crucial, he said.

“Other areas in Ireland are the competition. We have to market the city as a unit. ”

Mr Gavin said the Marketing Partnership, which includes representatives from the city and county councils, the airport, the Port of Cork, the hotels federation, the business association and the chamber, will begin its work in January when its development officer takes up the position.

Meanwhile, Manor Park Homes is expected to lodge within weeks a multi-million planning application to transform Kent Station and Horgan’s Quay into a 5,000-seat conference centre.