Tourism Minister launches new advertising blitz for Kerry

Fáilte Ireland launches advertising blitz for Kerry

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin TD, today, announced details of a new €200,000 advertising campaign for Kerry funded by the local tourism industry and Fáilte Ireland. Radio adverts, newspaper supplements and a billboard campaign will begin promoting the county and all it has to offer from the week beginning this Monday (May 24th) and is designed to encourage Irish people to holiday in Kerry this year.  The campaign will complement the larger Discover Ireland campaign launched by the tourism authority earlier this year.
 
Addressing tourism and business representatives at the launch in the Malton Hotel in Killarney, Minister Hanafin said “this new marketing campaign is being jointly funded by up to 80 local tourism businesses along with Fáilte Ireland. This is a perfect example of the benefits of working together for the greater good.

“Tourism is central to the local Kerry economy and Kerry, in turn, is an integral part of Irish tourism. For that reason, I am very pleased to see that the level of support for this campaign from the local industry is unprecedented, with businesses from across Kerry contributing to the campaign. All types of tourism business have participated, accommodation providers, pubs, restaurants, activity providers, golf clubs and attractions.”
 
The campaign will feature outdoor billboards and bus-shelter advertising with a strong focus on Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Advertising will appear in national and regional press including the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Belfast Telegraph and Cork and Limerick papers. Broadcast advertising will involve national and regional radio including Today FM and Newstalk and local radio. There will also be a dedicated Kerry Tourism supplement in the Irish Times.

The outdoor ads will use a strong graphic device of Kerry lettering that supports a variety of imagery, reflecting the range of activities, as well as, the unique landscapes of Kerry - driving the awareness of Kerry as a premier holiday hotspot.   The press materiel will be adapted to promote the key destinations of Dingle, Killarney, and The Ring of Kerry, and will feature a number of special offers for both accommodation and activities. A number of radio ads have been produced highlighting specific experiences that can be had in the destinations of Dingle, Killarney, and the Ring of Kerry.

All communications will direct potential customers to a specifically designed Kerry campaign page on the Fáilte Ireland’s consumer website www.discoverireland.ie/kerry

Speaking today, Fiona Buckley, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Operations for the South west, stressed:

“This will be a coordinated, impactful marketing campaign for Kerry and its key destinations of Dingle, Ring of Kerry, and Killarney. We, in Fáilte Ireland, believe that there is great potential in the home holiday market this Summer and we are determined to put Kerry in the frame as many families now sit down to plan their breaks.”

Ends

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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