This article is from page 2 of the 2006-06-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
SHANNON DEVELOPMENT has welcomed calls from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation for a 2,000seater international conference centre to be located in the region.
The ITIC says the centre would benefit from access to Shannon Airport, underpin passenger numbers there and help develop the Mid-West as a hub for wider economic growth.
In its report to government, the ITIC said that a regional conference centre for the region would rebalance regional growth, not only in tourism terms but in terms of overall economic activity.
In a statement, John King, Heritage and Tourism Director with Shannon Development said the body “fully endorses the call by ITIC for a major regional conference centre for the Shannon/Limerick area.
“The ITIC proposal is in line with Shannon Development’s regional tourism strategy, an important element of which is the undertaking of a feasibility study for such a regional conference centre. Shannon Development is currently working on the feasibility of this proposal in conjunction with key tourism trade partners in the Shannon Region. The study will determine the viability of this project and whether or not it can become a sustainable proposal”.
According to a statement from the ITIC, it is proposing “NDP tourism investment of €1 billion in 2007-2013 and, as part of this, a proposal for a major Regional Conference Centre in the Shannon/Limerick area with minimum capacity for 2,000 people.”
In its submission, the confederation said that if Ireland is to reach the Government target of 10 million overseas visitors by 2012, a “seachange ” is required in tourism performance.
The chairwoman of the ITIC, Catherine Reilly said that the Government “has done well from tourism and has the potential to do even better. But as this report articulates, much remains to be done on the investment side if the industry is to make its optimal contribution to Irish economic and social development.”
The confederation report claims that Ireland’s tourism product has become “tired and lacking in verve or bounce for many tourists”.