Kenny urges no Gathering ‘rip off’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has urged businesses not to “rip off” tourists who come to Ireland as part of next year’s Gathering initiative.

Mr Kenny said it would be wrong if businesses took a “give us your money” approach to visitors.

The Gathering is Ireland’s biggest ever tourism project, with the Government hoping a wide array of festivals and events will attract an additional 345,000 visitors over the course of 2013.

The Coalition is hoping to tap into the 70m or so people across the world who claim Irish heritage.

Mr Kenny said yesterday that while people would come, it was crucial they enjoy their experience and not feel ripped off.

“People want to come, people will come, but you have to show them what it is they’re coming for, and that there’s a reason to come.

“And it’s not just about setting out targets for numbers to arrive here — 200,000, 300,000, 500,000, or whatever.

“It’s the other end of that equation — that when they come, they must be made feel important as VIPs and that they get a quality experience here and that there’s not a rip-off or there’s not an attempt to say, ‘Well, just because the Gathering is in place, you’re welcome to our shores, give us your money’.

“This is not just a short-term operation — this is setting down a standard that will repeat itself over the years.”

Mr Kenny was speaking at the launch of a €2m fund to support community-based events and activities during the Gathering.

IBP Insurance has put forward €1m which has been matched by the Department of Tourism.

The target for the fund will be to support 700 or so Gathering events.