TOURISM BODY WELCOMES €4.5m FUNDING

Calls for all Tourism Interests to Unite behind Ryder Cup Opportunity

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), representing the largest segment of the Irish tourism industry, today welcomed the announcement by John O’Donoghue T.D Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism of an additional €4.5m allocation for the promotion and marketing of the Ryder Cup. This fund should be used to mobilise and motive the Irish tourist industry and golfing fraternity to ensure that our staging of the Ryder Cup is a countrywide experience and that all areas of Ireland benefit - not just those fortunate enough to be directly involved in this world class event. There is now a strong onus on Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Irish tourist industry as a whole to roll out a programme of events and activities which leverage the worldwide exposure of Ireland’s hosting of the Ryder Cup.

The Ryder Cup is not just about a week in September, it is about Irelands’ ability and facilities to host one of the top three sporting events in the world and allows us showcase the vast choice of 414 golf courses in Ireland suitable for all pockets and challenges, the Federation states. 

The IHF believes a focus is needed now to harness the impact of the Ryder Cup to the maximum extent, otherwise a once in a lifetime opportunity will be lost – it is unlikely Ireland will attract a sporting event of such magnitude again with the potential to reach so many people worldwide.  This will require hospitality and golf groups creating packages together that work across all levels of golfer standard and visitor spend. This should be supported through effective marketing and promotion both at home and abroad.

“So, in September in the lead up and whilst the Ryder Cup is actually being broadcast throughout the world, ideally in tandem, there should be highly visible marketing initiatives promoting attractive golfing packages to Ireland that extends across all levels of visitor demand,” says John Power, Chief Executive, Irish Hotels Federation.

The IHF estimates that the Ryder Cup will generate over €130m to the economy when it takes place next September. Most importantly, it suggests that by positioning Ireland as a premier golf destination, it should assist grow the highly important Irish golf tourism industry which attracts almost 150,000 visitors annually. 

“The Ryder Cup in 2006 will be a major international showcase for Ireland – it is a unique opportunity to profile Ireland as an attractive destination to a potential one billion viewers throughout the world.  It will demonstrate to the world the quality of the Irish golf product,” says John Power. “We need to ensure that Irish tourism continues to be a strategic part of the Ryder Cup experience and that means providing packages for golfing breaks that appeal to all golf lovers from a range of our international markets.  We are encouraged by Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland’s golf marketing initiatives. We see the hospitality sectors with the providers of golfing fraternity now being able to benefit from a coordinated effort to maximise the impact of the Ryder Cup throughout Ireland” he concluded.

ENDS

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