Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:22 pm
Here's a news article I read today. It's something to think about in terms of who our target audience should be in relation to getting conservation issues addressed:
'NewsIrish Sport Showbiz World Business Weather Products Entertainment Shopping Services Latest Irish news
€6m cash boost for Irish tourism
The Government today backed plans to brand Ireland as a major holiday destination for cyclists and walkers with a €6m package for projects around the country.
Minister for Tourism Seamus Brennan rubber-stamped the investment in cycling and walking routes as well as coastal pathways against the backdrop of a global shift towards green tourism.
Visitor facilities at beaches and parks are also to benefit from the multi-million euro injection of public money.
"Ireland‘s sweeping countryside, great stretches of unspoilt coastline and engrossing heritage and culture are all key ingredients in positioning Ireland as a vibrant activity holiday destination for walking, cycling, angling and water-based pursuits," said Mr Brennan.
"I am confident that the projects being supported will help local authorities and others to address tourism infrastructure deficits and enhance their areas‘ overall attractiveness to visitors."
The cash is being distributed through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
It was set up to support walking and cycling routes, jetties and moorings, angling stands, access paths to key areas of environmental and scenic interest and signposting in historic towns.
The minister said more grants will be rolled out from the €25m fund in the coming months and years.
The first payout of €6.1m includes more than €2.5m for walking and cycling routes and almost €500,000 euro towards a national coastal walk.
More than €2.25m has been earmarked for environment and visitor facilities and almost one million is going into improving Blue Flag beaches.
"Tourism last year attracted seven million foreign visitors and it is an industry that is vitally important to the Irish economy, generating some €6bn in revenue each year and employing 250,000 people," said Mr Brennan.
"If we are to continue to grow this sector then we must avoid any tendency to take tourism for granted and instead we must commit to constantly refreshing, upgrading and expanding tourism facilities to meet the ever-changing requirements of tourists.
As a country, we have to be always striving to create and deliver a unique tourism experience that will make visitors, both from home and abroad, want to holiday again and again in Ireland".'