Galway race - Tribute to local efforts

Congratulations to Galway on securing the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2012.

This is a magnificent tribute to local initiative and it is a testament to the city’s phenomenal success in organising the stop in the city last year.

It was estimated that stop provided a €60 million boost to the local economy by attracting around 650,000 visitors to the area. The full race route has yet to be announced, but other stops are believed to be in the US, China, South Africa and three other European ports – in Spain, Portugal, and France.

The last race attracted an estimated 1.3 billion television viewers worldwide. Thus the ending of the race in Galway will provide a magnificent opportunity to advertise Ireland as a tourist destination.

The Irish Hotels Federation predicts the race will attract 40,000 visitors to Ireland and it could be worth as much as €80m to the economy.

It will also provide a tremendous opportunity to interest people at home and abroad in this country’s enormous potential to develop the sport of sailing. The country has fantastic natural facilities that could and should be developed, both from a sporting and commercial perspective.