This article is from page 14 of the 2006-12-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
SHANNON Development has announced the appointment of eleven leading business figures from around the Region to the company’s new Shannon Region Tourism Development Board. The new board held its first meeting last Thursday at Shannon Development’s head office in the Town Centre, Shannon.
The Board is being chaired by well known Ennis Solicitor Michael Houlihan. Board members were nominated by local authorities, regional tourism and tourism industry groups. The new Board has been appointed for a three-year term during which time their role will be to advise Shannon Development on the preparation and implementation of a strategic tourism plan for the Shannon Region.
Announcing the new Board appointees Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive Shannon Development said, “I would like to welcome the new board members, I look forward to working with them. The tourism industry in Ireland is at a crucial point in its development. The factors central to our success in the past are not necessarily the ones to carry us forward into the future. Tourism is one of the most important indigenous industries in the Shannon Region.”
Accepting the position of Chairman of the new tourism Board, Houlihan said that “all of the board appointees are very successful in their own fields and I believe that the variety of experience they can bring to the task ahead will be invaluable”.
In 2005 more than 1 million overseas visitors came to the Shannon Region along with a further 750,000 domestic visitors. Tourism spend of €400 million in revenue to the Shannon Region was recorded in 2005.
“New accommodation coming onstream in 2007 will bring the Region’s total accommodation base to an estimated 7,500 beds. The challenge for Shannon Development and the tourism industry will be to develop and sustain the Shannon Region as a high quality and competitive tourism destination. To achieve this we will work closely with the tourism industry, local and regional bodies, and our colleagues in Fáilte Ireland /Tourism Ireland to provide focused, strategic, and practical actions to deal with the critical issues”, said John King, Director, Heritage and Tourism, Shannon Development.