LESS US VISITORS LEADS TO TOURISM DECLINE IN WEST

Date Published: 26-Oct-2011

An open sky policy and the advent of budget airlines are key factors in the recent decline in overseas visitors to the west.

That's just one of the findings of a new report, to be launched by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, in the city this morning.

The open sky policy means that more american visitors arrive into Dublin rather than Shannon where many chose to travel on to the west.

The Confederation says demand for tourism in Western counties has dropped by an estimated 37 percent between 1999 and 2010.

The report suggests that the hospitality industry in the West needs to focus more on promoting local heritage and food and create reasons to visit the region.