30 August 2017
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Cork has seen an increase in overseas visitor numbers grow from 955,000 in 2010 to over 1.3 million in 2016.
The first seven months of this year have seen over five and a half million visitors to our shores. Overall trips to Ireland were up 3.1% compared to the same period in 2016.
Fine Gael Cork South West TD and Minister for Mental Health and Older People Jim Daly, has welcomed the latest official data on overseas data from the CSO.
Jim Daly TD (Fine Gael) is a Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People
“The tourism sector has played a crucial role in the Irish economic recovery. Measures such as the retention of the 9% VAT rate on tourism services have been significant in helping our tourism sector in Cork South West in places such as Kinsale and Clonakilty as well as all over the Country.
“The figures show that the number of North American and European visitors continues to surge ahead, despite a slight drop in numbers from the UK.
“We have seen a number of great successes in tourism over the last number of years in particular to Wild Atlantic Way here in Cork South West and Ireland’s Ancient East proving enormously successful.
“The Government has also directed Fáilte Ireland to develop the ‘Ireland’s Lakelands’ brand as a separate proposition. To assist with sustainability of tourist accommodation and small tourism ventures, a support scheme will be introduced for businesses operating along these routes,” said Minister Daly.
