Tourism industry - We have to invest across the board

DESPITE the customary whingeing from elements within Irish tourism, 2006 has turned out to be a bumper year for the industry.

In a welcome development, there has been a resurgence in the number of visitors from North America. For the first time since the appalling 9/11 atrocity, an outrage which turned off the flow of US tourists to Europe, pre-2001 tourism levels have finally been regained.

From the Irish perspective, the jewel in the crown was undoubtedly the Ryder Cup. Besides attracting vast worldwide television audiences, the event drew large numbers of US visitors as Europe’s leading players defeated a star-studded US team, in a gripping contest to retain the most coveted prize in golf.