Tourist visitor numbers to fall further in 2009

Visitor numbers to Ireland are expected to fall further next year.

Tourism Ireland says 2008 has been a difficult year for the sector and is predicting a 3% decline in visitor numbers and a 4 % drop in revenue.

It has launched a multi-million euro marketing strategy for 2009.

Chief Executive Paul O'Toole said that where people had been taking multiple holidays in any one year, this is no longer the case.