Reaction in south Kerry yesterday to the announcement of the tourism portfolio for Mr John O'Donoghue, the outgoing minister for justice, was ecstatic.
Tourism is the biggest industry in the constituency, bringing in annual earnings of at least €300 million and employing around 10,000 people in the county as a whole.
Mr O'Donoghue will also have responsibility for the Arts and Sport portfolios.
"It's great for Kerry. It's great for Killarney.
"It's only fitting we should have a tourism minister in the county," said Mr Michael Courtney, chairman of Cork Kerry Tourism, the chief tourism marketing and information organisation in the area.
Mr O'Donoghue came from the Ring of Kerry itself, and he could not but understand the industry and its importance, Mr Courtney added.
Ms Kathleen O'Reagan-Sheppard, secretary of the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, also said it was about time Kerry had a minister for tourism.
"We in Kerry gave birth to Ireland's tourism industry. It's an honour for us all that a man of John O' Donoghue's calibre was appointed for tourism. It will enhance the ministry," Ms O'Reagan-Sheppard said.