The marketing group, Killarney of The Welcomes, which represents most of the main organisations in the area's tourism industry, has urged the Taoiseach to spell out the message "Ireland is disease-free", writes Anne Lucey.
In a letter to Mr Ahern, Killarney of the Welcomes said the message had gone out that Ireland had foot-and-mouth disease and in its view nothing had been done to correct this impression. US and English visitors were writing off Irish holidays since the cancellation of the St Patrick's Day parade and the coverage surrounding it, the group said.
The industry in Kerry had all but ground to a halt, with staff layoffs and cancellations in hotels, the group said, and there were now real fears for the summer season.
The town's jarveys suspended operations last week following a request from the Kerry district veterinary officer. Mr Pat O'Sullivan, the chairman of the Jarvey Association, said many of his 37 members expected to be out for the season. Ms Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, chairwoman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, has warned that nationally 20,000 jobs are at risk in the tourism industry.
She has called on the Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, for an action plan to promote tourism once the crisis is over.