Consider a ‘staycation' this year – Lombard

SOUTH Cork-based Fine Gael Senator, Tim Lombard, has said that 2016 was a record year for Irish tourism, benefitting communities and businesses in Cork, and also urged people to consider a ‘staycation’ in 2017, as thoughts turn to summer holiday bookings.

‘2016 was a record year for Irish tourism, an industry that is absolutely crucial to communities and businesses here in Cork. 

The latest official data on overseas travel from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), showed an increase of 277,000 overseas visits to Ireland for the first eleven months of 2016 compared to the same period of 2015. 

This represents an increase of 11%.

‘The largest increase was in visits from North America, up 18.3%. Visits from Mainland Europe grew by 8.8%; and visits from Great Britain were up by 11.1%. 

We must continue to prioritise our marketing of Irish tourism in Britain this coming year, particularly in the context of Brexit,’ he stated. 

‘Communities across Cork county are so dependent on tourism and we know how it can benefit our local businesses here,’ Senator Lombard continued.

 ‘The CSO figures released in December show that spending in Ireland by overseas visitors (excluding fares) for the first nine months of the year rose by 9.4% compared with the corresponding period of 2015. 

‘Our home holiday market is also growing,’ he noted. ‘The new year period is a busy time of year for the holiday market, as people turn their thoughts to booking a summer trip.

 I strongly encourage Irish people to consider a “staycation” in 2017. 

‘With the many sites and attractions we have to offer here, Cork is well placed to cater for domestic visitors as well as those from overseas.’