Millions Worth Of Tourism Business Up For Grabs

Over 100 international tour operators from over 20 countries are in Dublin this week to take part in the largest and most important Irish Tourism trade event for 2010.

Opening the Meitheal Trade Fair in the Burlington Hotel, Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin T.D., said "thousands of individual business opportunities and valuable deals will be negotiated and delivered during this trade fair.

"Irish tourism business are showing a high degree of resilience and determination to market their products in tough economic and travel conditions."

Minister Hanafin told delegates that last year the tourism industry contributed almost €4 billion in foreign earnings and supported some 200,000 jobs in tourism and hospitality.

"In the current circumstances, we all must continue to work harder to ensure that the product we are selling is top class and provides real value for money.

"The most recent disruption to the tourism sector from the volcanic ash plume, saw the industry once again pull together to deliver a Visitor Charter - which over 600 hotels and B&B's have already signed up to since it was circulated to them at the end of last week.

"Many more are expected to endorse the charter in the coming days and weeks." Ireland is the first country to produce an industry-wide commitment to its customers who are affected by ash related travel delays.

Minister Hanafin said that this charter, which is supported by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, "will give intending tourists a greater degree of assurance about how they will be assisted in the event of delays in their travel arrangements.

"Participating business will have their charter membership noted with a dedicated logo on all Discover Ireland national and international consumer websites."

Minister Hanafin went on to say that the Meitheal trade fair is a unique opportunity for Ireland to show the best of its tourism product and enables them to highlight a cross section of products, regions and cultural attractions and events to make the Irish holiday experience memorable. "Some 4,000 appointments are made by over 380 Irish suppliers and operators over the course of this trade fair, while product workshops are also being held covering golf holidays, outdoor activities such as angling, boat trips, walking and cycling as well as cultural and heritage tourism attractions.

"What the past few weeks have shown us is that while we can have no control over wind patterns and ash cloud disruption, we can work together to build customer confidence in Ireland by reassuring intending visitors and continuing to deliver high quality and good value for all visitors," she concluded.