20% of people in Kerry rely on its €420m tourism trade

One in five people in Kerry are economically dependent on tourism, according to the most in-depth examination of the €420m-a-year industry in the county, carried out on behalf of the umbrella body, Destination Kerry Tourism Forum. The research also found that the number of overseas visitors to the county exceeded one million for the first time in 2015,

More than 9,000 people are employed in accommodation and the hospitality sector in the county and 13% of all overseas tourists in Ireland visit the Kingdom.

The study shows Kerry is also a strong favourite for Irish tourists, with domestic tourism accounting for almost 700,000 visitors, but the county’s market share had declined.