Bord Fáilte, Tourism Ireland and Dublin Tourism today outlined their marketing plans for 2003 to tourism operators in the Dublin region at a special industry briefing.
'The challenge for the coming 12 months for our industry is to build on the partial recovery evidenced last year,' said Bord Fáilte acting Chief Executive Niall Reddy.
Mr Reddy said that while all indications suggested a small increase in overall visitor numbers was recorded in 2002, there had been a marked difference in the composition of these visitors, with the number of long-stay, high-spending US visitors significantly down.
Legislation for the new National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, is expected to be enacted early this year. This body will take over the existing powers of Bord Fáilte and CERT, including the domestic marketing and industry training mandates.
Marketing of the island of Ireland throughout the world will remain the function of Tourism Ireland, which has embarked on its second full year of operation.
In 2003, Bord Fáilte will focus on the domestic market, north and south, while a full marketing programme for activity-based holidays will be implemented throughout the world in conjunction with Tourism Ireland.
The domestic market has proved increasingly important in recent years. The number of hotel bednights accounted for by the domestic market had increased by 15% in 2002.
