A new €9 million international tourism marketing initiative will reach a worldwide audience of 20 million people and should help to significantly boost visitor numbers to Kilkenny, according to Kilkenny Fine Gael deputy John Paul Phelan.
Deputy Phelan said that the initiative would offer real potential to attract extra visitors to Kilkenny and the southeast over the coming months.
“This initiative, announced by the Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar, will see a veritable blitz of media outlets across the globe, from Europe to Asia and the US, promoting Ireland as a world class winter tourism destination,” he said.
“Joint campaigns between Tourism Ireland and a list of private operators will reach an audience of 20 million potential overseas visitors.
“It’s hugely welcome that companies such as Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Irish Ferries and a number of international tour companies have come on board to co-fund the campaigns. Tourism Ireland’s funding is being sourced from the air travel tax.”
The number of overseas visitors to Ireland was up almost 12 per cent in the first seven months of this year. Deputy Phelan outlined how the scheme to attract foreign visitors would be rolled out.
“The marketing campaigns will be launched on a number of fronts,” he said.
“Promotions will be run by both Ryanair and Aer Lingus highlighting attractive routes between here and mainland Europe. Ads will run in major national and regional newspapers and on radio stations in the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy and the Nordic region.”
