‘Massive decrease’ in tourists if ferry route suspended

THE company behind the Cork-Swansea ferry have claimed a “massive decrease” in tourist numbers to Cork and Kerry will be magnified if the route they operate is suspended.

The West Cork Tourism Co-Operative Society Limited, which owns the Fastnet Line service says data from the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation specifically highlights the West Cork and Kerry regions as performing poorly in attracting visitors in 2011.

The Cork-Swansea ferry is struggling to stay afloat. It is under examinership, with the High Court being told it had a deficit of €10.3 million on a going concern basis, rising to about €13.2m in a winding up scenario.

It has the protection of the courts until January 24 while it puts together a survival bid.

West Cork Tourism Co-Operative chairman Noel Murphy said: “With the Cork and Kerry regions already struggling to attract tourists the cancellation of the Cork to Swansea ferry service would have a very negative impact on visitor numbers.”

The suspension of the service would see 60,000 fewer tourists coming to Cork and Kerry and result in a €30m loss in direct visitor spending.

He said: “This is a very conservative estimate considering the profile and demographics of our passengers, with many spending above the average €500 per person.”

Mr Murphy claimed that if no ferry sailings take place in 2012, a minimum of 25,000 British tourists will not travel to Ireland, which would represent a further 1% reduction in visitor numbers from the 2011 figure.

“The remaining 35,000 visitors will perhaps visit Ireland via other means, but will in all probability not reach the Cork and Kerry regions owing to the difficulty in doing so with other crossings,” he said.