New Tourism Development Forum for Kerry

Members of the new Tourism Development Forum for Kerry

‘Fáilte Kerry’ to provide a renewed focus and direction to grow tourism in the county

Fáilte Ireland today announced the establishment of Fáilte Kerry, its new tourism development forum for the county.
 
Fáilte Kerry will be responsible for spearheading and overseeing a 3-year development plan for tourism in the region with the active support of the Fáilte Ireland organisation. The Forum is being put in place at a very challenging time for tourism in the region. Tourist numbers from abroad have fallen and dependence on local tourism has increased as a result. A key aim of the Forum will be to identify and implement a range of measures designed to boost overseas visitors to the region. The Forum is also expected to have a significant role in influencing national tourism policy as it affects the county.

Fáilte Kerry replaces the former South West Regional Tourism Development Board. Its membership is drawn from the tourism industry, business interests, the Local Authority and Fáilte Ireland.

Fáilte Kerry will be chaired by the well known businessman, Padraic Liston. Former Managing Director of Heineken Ireland, Padraic is currently Non Executive Chairman of a Heineken Ireland Wholesale subsidiary. The other members of the forum will be:

• Francis Brennan, General Manager, Park Hotel Kenmare;
• Michael Buckley, Kerry Coaches and Buckley Tours;
• Patsy Cronin, National chairman of the Leader Network;
• Tom Curran, Kerry County Manager;
• Cllr Seamus Fitzgerald nominated by Kerry County Council;
• Padraig Hanrahan, Ballybunion Holiday Homes;
• Nathan Kingerlee, Outdoors Ireland, Killorglin;
• Muireann Nic Giolla Rua, Benners Hotel and Dingle tourism;
• Mary O’Connor, Derrynane House Hotel, Derrynane;
• Sean O’Driscoll, hotelier and Chairman, Kerry Branch, Irish Hotels Federation (IHF);
• Mary Rose Stafford, Institute of Technology, Tralee;
• Fiona Buckley, Head of Operations, Fáilte Ireland South West.

Commenting today, Fiona Buckley, Head of Operations, Fáilte Ireland in the South West, stressed:

“I would like to thank all the former members of our outgoing Regional Tourism Development Board for their hard work and significant contribution to developing local tourism over the last few years. 

“However, we live in changing and challenging times and the establishment of ‘Fáilte Kerry’ will provide a renewed focus on what now needs to be done to grow tourism here in these testing times. I look forward to working with the new forum and I am confident that it will make a very valuable contribution to the development of tourism in our region.”

ENDS
 

For further information please contact:

Laoise Bray
Communications Officer – 086 0404788 / 01 8847195
 

Note for editor

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 200,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year.  

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