Fáilte Ireland defends 5% drop in overseas visitors to mid-west

FÁILTE Ireland has defended figures which showed a 5% drop in overseas visitors to the mid-west.

However, tourism interests in the region are critical of the tourism agency.

Fáilte Ireland said the decline had to be put in the context of huge gains in the mid-west during 2006 which were realistically unsustainable.