The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) is encouraging Garth Brooks fans to continue with their travel plans to Ireland. With over 70,000 overseas visitors disappointed by the concert cancellations, IHF President Stephen McNally states that hoteliers are doing everything possible to look after those affected and to ensure visitors experience the very best that Dublin has to offer.

 

“The immediate priority is to encourage the Garth Brooks concert visitors to come to Ireland anyway and experience all the great things to see and do in Dublin and further afield,” says Mr McNally. “We’re working closely with Fáilte Ireland and other industry partners to put in place a series of alternative promotions and events for visitors planning to travel to Dublin for the last week of July.”

 

Planning

Mr McNally urged the Government to begin an immediate review of the planning process around the licencing of events. “Major events of national importance cannot be left to chance. The risk to our tourism economy is too great,” he says. “The Government now needs to act quickly to address the shortfalls highlighted by the recent fiasco and put in place a workable approval process for future large-scale events.”

 

 

ENDS

FOR INFORMATION:

Eoin Quinn / Natalie Christie                                       Mob: 087 233 2191 / 086 394 7729

Weber Shandwick                                                          Tel: 01 6798600