City ambassadors help more than 18,000 visitors

LIMERICK’S street ambassadors helped more than 18,000 visitors this summer — almost double the number they met last year when they were introduced.

The roving tourist guides helped mostly foreign visitors — more than 15,000 from 64 countries.

While most tourists were American and European, the ambassadors also met visitors from places as far afield as Malaysia, Brazil, Kenya and China.

Limerick led the way nationally in 2006 by employing the first street ambassadors as roving tourist guides to welcome visitors and provide them with information on the best places to visit, and where best to eat and to shop.

The Limerick Co-ordination Office (LCO) spearheads the project.

LCO chief Andrew Mawhinney said: “This year’s street ambassadors were a great bunch of people who took pride in their work and the results speak for themselves. We intend to continue this project for Limerick again next year to promote the best that our city has to offer visitors and locals.”

Team leader Jean Ryan said they were delighted with the increase in the number of tourists they met this summer — up more than 8,000 on last year.

She said: “We had a greater visibility on the streets with six ambassadors walking the city centre and historical areas seven days a week.”

They were also a big hit with Limerick people.

She said: “The response from local people has been fantastic. They tell us they are delighted to see us on the streets again and they are genuinely proud that Limerick is leading the way with this project.”

The ambassadors also had a strong environmental brief to monitor streets and parks for litter and report to Limerick City Council.

“We reported all litter black spots to the environmental help line and we found that there was a very quick response,” she said.

The number of street ambassadors was increased from 10 to 12 this year and they included students, retired people, and language, tourism and business graduates. They ranged in age from 17 to 65.