Bord Fáilte has today launched a tourism promotion aimed at redressing the recent set-back to the market caused byfoot-and-mouth.
The two-day 'Ireland Travel Trade Workshop' is being held at the RDS. Dublin will host 360 tour operators from 32 countries, providing over 700 Irish tourism representatives the opportunity to re-sell Ireland as a prime tourist destination.
New countries to be represented at the workshop include Moldova and the United Arab Emirates. Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are strongly represented, while the North American delegation included 16 new companies wishing to expand their tour packages for Ireland in 2002.
Chief Executive of Bord Fáilte Mr John Dully said the workshop would be an opportunity to facilitate meetings between Irish representatives and overseas traders and said the Bord's "priority" was to return tourism to the pattern of rapid growth established prior to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
He said figures from the Central Statistics Office for 2000 showed the number of overseas visitors last year exceeded six million for the first time and foreign exchange earnings almost reached the £3 billion mark.
Mr Dully said "it is hoped that the relationships established at the workshop and the renewing of contacts will bear fruit in the coming years".