23rd August 2013, Friday
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cobh is already on the map for cruise ship visits,
and now there’s a push by the County Council
for Bantry Bay, in West Cork to become a major destination in itself.
Leaders from the tourist industry in West Cork yesterday afternoon
heard a presentation on how the West Cork economy would benefit.
The Cruise ship market is the fastest growing sector of the global
travel industry. But at the moment in Cork most cruise ships visit only
Cobh.
Passengers are taken by bus on shore excursions, but they are limited
to a certain radius from Cobh, meaning that West Cork is losing out on
revenue, plus some many passengers are no on their second visit to Cork and
want to see something new.
The presentation at the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery heard from
James Fogarty, Divisional Manager, Cork County Council.
Derry Cronin of Specialised Travel Services
and Captain Michael McCarthy, the commercial Manager of the Port of Cork
Captain McCarthy spoke to TheCork.ie before the meeting
[Audio]
0822-BANTRY-CRUISE-02-capt-michael-mccarthy-comm-man-port-SAYS-SHIPS-SHOULD-GO-DIRECT-TO-BANTRY.mp3
