Tourism sector holds its own despite downturn

Galway City and Connemara managed to keep tourist numbers at least on a par with last year because of good value packages and a continuous festival calendar however more remote areas have had a difficult tourist season, according to the industry.

Fáilte Ireland General Manager Fiona Monaghan said accurate figures for this year’s tourism season had yet to be collated - but after talking to tourism operators around the county she believes the season is on a par or slightly up on 2009.

“Overall Galway has been good and numbers are at least on a par, if not up on last year. However the big challenge is to improve the spend,” she said.

“Galway and Connemara are pushing above their weight in comparison with other parts of the country, although that’s not to say all business are getting the same share and parts of the county outside the more recognisable tourist spots didn’t do as well.”

Operators are reporting a strong Italian and French market this month and while the number of Americans was down in the first six months of the year, there has been a turnaround in the last six weeks.

And she credits the festivals as well as the businesses themselves in the city and in Connemara seizing the initiative to fund marketing campaigns at home and abroad.

See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.