Countdown over as Volvo Ocean Race departs from Alicante

The participating sailing teams depart Alicante this Saturday, on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, as the build up begins for their arrival in Galway on May 23rd 2009. As principal sponsor of the Galway stopover, Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, has recognised the substantial tourism potential associated with a global event such as this and has invested €8 million in bringing the race to the West of Ireland.  

As the only stopover during the race in Ireland or the UK, the potential economic impact will be significant for Galway. An impact study carried out by Deloitte in April last year predicted that there would be a €35.4m direct return on investment. In fact, overall a total of €43.7m, in direct and indirect expenditure, is predicted as a result of the Galway stopover.
 
As the first European port after the long haul destinations, Galway is an integral part of the global network of eleven ocean race ports involved in the race around the world and is the only stopover for Ireland or the UK. The inclusion of Ireland in the race will provide an opportunity to further increase Ireland’s standing for hosting world class sporting events.
 
In addition to the marketing benefits, it is hoped that the presence of the Volvo Ocean Race will give impetus to the planned re-development of Galway port and help realise the leisure marine potential to be unlocked with critical infrastructure developments. As part of the build-up to the Volvo Ocean Race, Fáilte Ireland has injected €1m into the development of marinas and visitor moorings in the Galway area which will remain long after the event.

Fáilte Ireland’s funding of the race also includes sponsorship of The Green Dragon boat and its Irish crew who will be promoted in overseas ports to generate coverage for Ireland – raising awareness of Ireland as a holiday destination as they traverse the globe while participating in the race.
 
Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland, stressed the significant tourism and commercial benefits that the event will bring.
 
He emphasised - “the Volvo Ocean Race will attract the biggest audience for Irish tourism since the Ryder Cup in 2006. Indeed, it is the latest in a series of major world sporting events which we have attracted to Ireland under our International Sports Tourism Initiative. The event will put a spotlight on Galway, allow for the promotion of Ireland from port to port and bring some infrastructural improvements to our west coast. ”
 
He added “With a predicted 140,000 visitors to Galway and a further total global audience of millions watching, the event will create an opportunity for positive media coverage for Ireland as a versatile and high quality holiday destination and will further increase Ireland’s standing for hosting world class sporting events.”    
 

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Louise Tolerton
PR Officer - 086 6086578/01 8847135

 
Notes for editor

Fáilte Ireland
 
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
 
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 320,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year. 
 

International Sports Tourism Initiative

 
Fáilte Ireland administers the International Sports Tourism Initiative, which was introduced by the Government in January 2000 to build Ireland’s international reputation as a quality sports destination and, consequently, to increase sports tourism, a growing element in international tourism and travel.
 
Support is given in the form of sponsorship towards events that meet the criteria of the Initiative and deliver substantial tourism and commercial benefits to Ireland.
 
Key events supported through the Initiative include Ryder Cup, Rally Ireland, Tour of Ireland and Solheim Cup. 
 

Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier yacht race for professional racing crews, will begin on October 11th 2008 when the sailing group set out from the port of Alicante in Spain.
 
In May 2009 they will arrive in Galway after travelling some 37,000 nautical miles and calling in ports in Cape Town, Kochi, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro and Boston. 

Galway will be the first European stopover after the long haul destinations and will be a key European destination in terms of tourism development. In fact Galway is the only stopover in Ireland or the UK.  
  
Eight ocean racing teams are expected in Galway on the 23rd May next year, on the final stages of the Race, which will integrate the maritime city of Galway and Ireland as part of the global network of eleven ocean race ports around the world.  
 

Benefit to Ireland

A potential economic impact study carried out by Deloitte in April 2007 found the following:
 
Predicted €35.4m direct return on investment
A further predicted total of €8.3m return on investment in indirect expenditure
Predicted 140,000 visitors to Galway over the two weeks
Predicted global audience of 1.8 billion
 Failte Ireland Involvement
 
€5 million port fee
€2 million boat branding and promotion of Ireland at overseas stopovers
€1 million infrastructure development in Galway
 

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