The former chief executive of Forfás, Mr John Travers, has been appointed to chair a new tourism group which will oversee the implementation of an initial two-year action plan. Alison Healy reports.
The plan was recommended by the Tourism Policy Review Group, which presented a blueprint for the development of the tourism industry to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, last September.
It aims to increase the number of annual overseas visitors from six to 10 million over the next 10 years.
Mr O'Donoghue said the action plan was "a very ambitious and challenging one".
The appointment of the group was welcomed by the Irish Hotels' Federation chief executive, Mr John Power, who said the plan would "put in place the foundations to build Ireland's tourism success to new levels".
Mr Travers also chaired the Tourism Policy Review Group and the interim board of the National Tourism Development Authority.