Dublin will retain full powers to promote itself as a holiday destination under a major revamp of regional tourism, it emerged today.
Five other tourist authorities around the country will hand over the operation of their tourist offices and their marketing functions to Fáilte Ireland, following a review of regional tourism.
Dublin Tourism said it had won the right to retain its autonomy after raising its concerns with Tourism, Sports and Arts Minister John O’Donoghue.
“My whole case is based on the fact that Dublin is in competition with other European cities. The Dublin market is different,” said chief executive Frank Magee.
He said that while bed nights in Dublin over a four-year period grew by 2.7 million, they fell by two million in the rest of Ireland.
“So Dublin is a totally different proposition and it needed to be allowed the freedom to achieve its own approach and that’s what’s happened. We’re number three in Europe, we’re outperforming the rest of the country, and if you’ve a winning formula, why change it?”
The recommendation of regional tourism structures review, carried out by consultants last April, was reversed by an independent expert committee set up under former Forfas chief executive John Travers.
More: breakingnews.iol.ie
Related Travel Information
Rapper Eminem has cancelled a European tour scheduled for September, citing treatment for "exhaustion, complicated by other medical issues," his record label said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Anger Management tour, also featuring his protege 50 Cent, was scheduled to run from September 1 in Hamburg to September 17 near Dublin. The trek is not expected to be rescheduled, the statement added. A publicist at Interscope Records declined to elaborate on Eminem's health.
In July, the Detroit Free Press reported that Eminem may retire at the end of the Anger Management tour, which just wrapped its North American leg. Eminem,
Ryanair takes Dublin Terminal 2 challenge to Europe
Low-cost airline Ryanair will submit a complaint to the European Commission against Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) over its plans to build a second terminal, the carrier said on Tuesday.
Ryanair has long sought a second terminal at Dublin airport, to be run by the airline or another independent operator rather than the DAA.
Europes leading budget carrier says it wants to keep a lid on the cost of the development, which it says could drive up passenger charges by as much as 60 percent.
More : today.reuters.co.uk
EUROPA TRAVEL: Dominican Republic, ex Dublin, July 27, 14 nights all-inclusive, £792; Cancun ex London, Aug 7, 2 weeks room only, £679; Antigua ex London, Aug 24, 14 nights room only, £616; Italian Lakes ex Dublin, Aug 27, 1 week, £488. Tel: 028 9062 3211.
• TRAVELFARE LURGAN: Menorca ex Dublin, Sept 3, 1 week with 2 adults sharing, accommodation allocated on arrival, £224. Tel: 028 3832 1192.
• SELECTIVE TRAVEL: all ex Belfast - Jersey, Aug 27, 7 nights B&B, £359; Sorrento, 7 nights 3* HB, £409; Toronto and Niagara Falls, Aug 15, 6 nights, £565. Tel: 028 9096 2030.
More: belfasttelegraph.co.uk
The Government has reportedly ordered an overhaul of the way Ireland is promoted as a tourist destination for foreign visitors.
Reports this morning said the move would see Fáilte Ireland take over the marketing functions of regional tourism bodies, while some tourist information offices could also be closed or downgraded.
The reports said the changes were recommended in an independent study of regional tourism structures commissioned following a decline in tourists outside Dublin.
More: breakingnews.iol.ie
Time to choose NZ, Japan or South Africa
DUBLIN, Ireland - International rugby officials have a choice between traditional strongholds and a new Asian frontier when they select the host country tomorrow morning (NZ time) for the 2011 World Cup, the Associated Press (AP) reported today.
New Zealand, South Africa and Japan are bidding to be hosts of what will be the seventh World Cup and they will hear their fates after 5am NZT tomorrow, following an International Rugby Board meeting in Dublin.
Japan has only 126,000 registered rugby players but has a large population (127 million), economy and ability to
