Killarney continues to charm visitors
In a pilot survey by the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in co-operation with Fáilte Ireland and organisations in Killarney, 97% of tourists rated local friendliness ‘extremely high.’ A total of 659 visitors were surveyed and the findings are expected to provide a basis for action plans to further develop a sustainable tourism industry in the area.
Favourite attractions were: Muckross House, 36%; Killarney National Park, 34%; Ross Castle, 16% and Killarney Lakes 12%, with the Ring of Kerry also on 12%.
Main negative experiences were traffic congestion and bad weather, both on 10%, with the poor quality of roads on 8%.
Recommendations from friends and relatives prompted 37% of the people surveyed to visit Killarney. A further 21% were regular visitors.
As well as the friendliness of Killarney people, quality of service was also considered exceptionally high, with 95% rating it excellent or good.
The survey concluded that Killarney received a satisfaction rating of almost nine out of a potential 10 points, the main reasons being quality accommodation, the people, scenery, the bustling nature of the town, good bars and restaurants.
But dissatisfaction with traffic flow arose from congestion, lack of pedestrianisation, difficulties in crossing the streets and the availability and cost of parking facilities.
Concerns also emerged about late-night noise, litter, signage, commercialisation, lack of public transport, lack of cycle lanes and the lack of all-weather and children’s attractions.
Just over 70% of visitors surveyed came from overseas, more or less equally divided between North America, Britain and Europe. Nearly a fifth of the Irish visitors were from Cork.
Meanwhile, the separate survey of 436 local residents found that 90 felt locals and visitors had a positive relationship, but a desire by 48% to get a break from visitors in the low season was described as the only negative point.
Parallel surveys were carried out among business people and local residents, with the importance of tourism as the principal industry in the area being overwhelmingly stressed by respondents.
Killarney Chamber of Commerce and Tourism was among the organisations supporting the survey.
