Group recommends targets for tourism industry

The Government’s Tourism Policy Review Group has recommended that the Irish tourism industry try to increase the number of holidaymakers visiting Ireland by 66% over the next 10 years.

The group said the industry should set a target to increase tourist numbers to 10 million by 2012.

It said the industry should also try to double overseas visitor spending to €6bn in the same period.

The group also called for an increase in the number of domestic holiday trips from three million to 4.3 million, saying this would lead to an extra €1bn in revenue for the tourism sector.