Failte Ireland Committed to South East Tourism in 2012

Wednesday, 25th January 2012

Despite recent upbeat reports regarding an increase in overseas visitors to Ireland in 2011, Failte Ireland warned against any complacency in the tourism sector this year, during its annual tourism industry briefing for the South East region held in Kilkenny today.

The national tourism development authority stressed that the hard lessons and good work of the last few years will need to continue and will be central to maintaining a momentum towards a full recovery in tourism. To assist that momentum, Failte Ireland will be working hand in glove with local tourism businesses in the South East, which includes Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Wexford and Tipperary.

Failte Ireland CEO, Shaun Quinn stressed:

"Although 2011 was an encouraging year, there is no room for complacency. We must all remain focussed on doing all we can to maintain a momentum towards recovery. Failte Ireland, through a mixture of marketing, supporting tourism businesses and developing attractive tourism destinations, will work closely to boost the full potential of the South East in 2012."

TOURISM IN THE SOUTH EAST

Mr Gary Breen, Head of Operations for Failte Ireland in the South East, explained that a key focus for the region in 2012 will be the further development and promotion of the culture and heritage product. Between 2010 and 2014, Failte Ireland will have invested some €23 million in the heritage offering of the South East – an investment that represents the single largest investment in any region in the country.

The South East is on route to becoming a world class centre for the interpretation and presentation of Ireland's history with a few key developments taking place detailed below
- The opening of the new Medieval Museum in Waterford's Viking Triangle this summer
- The upgrading to international standards of the Irish National Heritage Park and Rothe House in Wexford and Kilkenny respectively
- The recent re-development of the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience in New Ross
- The planned investment in a number of historical assets in Kilkenny.

Mr Breen continued "There has also been significant progress made in the last number of years in the prevision of outdoor and family adventure facilities and these experiences will, in 2012, be marketed through established local networks in Tramore, Dunmore, the Hook, North Wexford, the Comeraghs/Nire Valley, the Glen of Aherlow, Kilmore Quay and Cahir."

Events such as the Wexford Opera Festival, Waterford Spraoi, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Sean Kelly Classic, Pan Celtic (which will take place in Carlow in 2012) in addition to new events such as the Kilkenny Greystock Festival, Wexford's Art in the Open, and Waterford's food festivals, are hugely important to the tourism development of the South East this year, adding: 

"Visitors don't just come for the landscape and scenery they want a quality interactive experience and festivals and events can play a big part this for the South East region.  The staging of key festivals and other events based around the Gathering will all bring in significant revenue and overseas media coverage of the region. 

"We will be working closely with local industry here in the South East to ensure that the new attractions and key festival and events are supported and marketed and that these regional assets generate as much publicity and footfall for the South East as possible.

Mr Breen also pointed out that despite the economic downturn, the national tourism development authority supported a busy year of tourism activity in 2011 and provided training to hundreds of members of the local industry. 

"During 2011, hundreds of members of the local tourism industry here in the South East region received advice and training in areas such as online marketing, Customer Care and Sales.  In addition, local bed and breakfast owners were up-skilled through a new B&B development programme, covering areas such as menu development and customer care. 

"Failte Ireland will be placing further focus on skills development throughout 2012 in order to ensure the South East industry is fully equipped to sustain and grow their business in the current environment."

PRIORITIES FOR 2012

To bolster tourism growth in Ireland this year, some of Failte Ireland's key projects in 2012 will include:

Completion of the second phase of the Viking Triangle cultural quarter in Waterford which will see 6 national monuments, three museums, and a walking tour accessible to the public.