tourism
news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk
Irish tourism receives budget boost
2010 – a case
DAST's tourism services budget for 2010 increased by 2 per cent
for optimism
By Pete Hayman
Predictions for year ahead
Ireland's tourism industry has been handed
suggest modest growth
a funding boost for the forthcoming year
as part of the Department for Arts, Sport
and Tourism's (DAST) overall allocation in
the 2010 Budget.
sandie dawe is
Tourism minister Martin Cullen has
the chief
welcomed the government's commitment
executive of
to help the industry with a range of
VisitBritain
initiatives designed to return the number of
inbound visitors to growth, following a The Irish government hopes to attract
period of decline. more overseas visitors to its heritage sites
DAST's tourism services budget for the
A
s we enter 2010, we can be forthcoming year has increased by 2 per ing Ireland in overseas markets, which
optimistic about the year ahead. cent to €155m (£140.4m), while finance follows Tourism Ireland's recent announce-
Recent figures for 2009 suggest minister Brian Lenihan has allocated €22m ment for a major push to bring in more
that the tourism industry has ‘turned a (£19.9m) to invest in the upgrade of major visitors from Britain and Germany.
corner’, marking it as an economic tourist attractions and improving cycling Cullen said: "This allocation is clear
driver to lift Britain out of recession as and water-based infrastructure, as well as recognition by government of the important
we enter 2010, and beyond. local heritage sites. More than €44m role that the tourism and hospitality sector
We forecast a slight rise of nearly 1 (£39.9m) has been earmarked for market- will play in Ireland's economic recovery."
per cent in the volume of inbound
tourism to 30.4million, with inbound
visitor spending rising to £17.1bn, an
BAA reports increase in passenger numbers
increase of nearly 4 per cent on 2009. If
sterling remains weak we may see a By Pete Hayman
steeper increase in visitor spending
than expected. Airport operator BAA has reported a 0.8
At VisitBritain, we will continue to per cent increase in passenger numbers
respond to market conditions trends during November compared with the same
and opportunities. We will be period last year – the first net monthly
launching three-year global campaigns increase since March 2008.
in 2010 along three key themes: Classic, Traffic at Edinburgh Airport has contin-
Dynamic and Luxury, encompassing ued to grow for an eight consecutive
traditional Britishness, youth and high month, while London's Heathrow Airport
revenue markets. A new VisitBritain posted a 1.1 per cent increase, when
iPhone app has been launched as part compared with November 2008. Gatwick
of our film tourism work around the – in its last full month of BAA ownership
new Sherlock Holmes film, allowing Traffic at Heathrow increased by 1.1 per cent – saw an increase of 4.5 per cent.
users to locate and then visit locations
from their favourite British films.
The Ryder Cup will also take place in
Irish residents take less trips abroad
Britain in 2010 at the Celtic Manor
Resort in Newport, South Wales and we The number of Irish residents travelling 1991 that the number of overseas visits
will be capitalising on the abroad between July and September has fallen between July and September,
opportunities that hosting this 2009 has fallen by 12 per cent, com- compared with the previous year.
prestigious event brings. We mustn’t pared with the same period last year, The CSO reported that the number of
forget various other set piece events according to new figures from the inbound visitors to Ireland also continued
that promote Britain around the globe Central Statistics Office (CSO). to decrease during the third quarter of
such as Glastonbury, Wimbledon and Leisure trips overseas by Irish residents 2009, with nearly 300,000 fewer
The Edinburgh Festivals. decreased by 17 per cent during the overseas visitors holidaying in the
With best wishes for a prosperous three-month period – the first time since country. Details: www.failteireland.ie
new year!
18 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital © Cybertrek 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32