While the number of overseas visitors to Cork and Kerry rose by 7.2 per cent last year, the number of British holidaymakers dropped by at least 3 per cent, according to the annual report of the regional tourism authority, published yesterday.
The Cork-Kerry Tourism report said the fall in British and , according to Mr Con O'Connell, regional manager of the authority, renewed efforts would be made through promotions in mainland Britain to reverse this trend. The regional manager of the authority, Mr Con O'Connell, said the area would be promoted in Britain to reverse the trend.
The strength of sterling as well as the expansion of air and sea routes from the UK should also help restore the British market, Mr O'Connell added.
During the year under review, overseas visitors numbered 1,559,000, while domestic visitors were up 3 per cent to 1,350,000.
Introducing the report in Killarney, Mr O'Connell said the tourism "spend" in the region last year was £572 million - an increase of 14 per cent on the previous year.
Despite the buoyant returns, bed-nights - the number of overnight stays - in Cork fell by 15 per cent, while Killarney had an 18 per cent drop and Dingle was down 7 per cent. However, in Glengariff, one of the most popular tourism resorts in Co Cork, bed-nights showed an increase of 175 per cent.
"This is a creditable and encouraging performance for the region and it highlights the significant contribution that tourism plays in the overall development and growth of the economy," Mr O'Connell said, adding that the 1999-2006 regional tourism plan for the area aimed to create 6,500 jobs in the sector. Ms Eileen O'Shea, chairman of Cork-Kerry Tourism, said that to achieve the aggressive targets set out in the tourism plan the region would have to focus on activity-related services and the expansion of out-of-season business.
"We have sufficient accommodation capacity at present and a comprehensive range of tourism products already available in the region to provide for substantial growth in the shoulder season and to extend the current tourism season," she said. Cork-Kerry Tourism is responsible for the marketing and development of the region including the Dingle peninsula, south Co Kerry and Co Cork.