Home holidays plan backed

The Government is to provide £500,000 to fund the marketing of home holidays, the Minister for State at the Department of Tourism…

The Government is to provide £500,000 to fund the marketing of home holidays, the Minister for State at the Department of Tourism and Trade, Mr Toddy O'Sullivan, said yesterday.

The industry is to provide matching funds to promote home holidays, particularly outside the peak season.

Last Wednesday, the outgoing president of the Irish Hotels Federation, Mr Gerry O'Connor, said it was "little short of negligent" for the Government not to make funds available to develop this important segment of the market. In 1994, home holidays accounted for £680 million out of total tourist spending of £2 billion.