€47m to promote tourism as visitor numbers decline

TOURISM IRELAND is to spend €47 million on promoting Ireland as a holiday destination over the next three years as visitor numbers are expected to decline this year for the first time since 2001.

The Go Where Ireland Takes You marketing campaign was unveiled in Dublin yesterday amid concerns that 2009 is also set to be another bad year for the industry.

Tourism Ireland has estimated the total number of overseas holidaymakers visiting Ireland in 2008 will be 8.8 million — a 3% reduction on the previous year. It is also projected tourism revenues will fall by 4% to €4.2 billion.