Promotion of tourism sought

The Irish Hotels Federation has called on the Government to invest an extra £4 million per year in the overseas promotion of …

The Irish Hotels Federation has called on the Government to invest an extra £4 million per year in the overseas promotion of the tourism industry and to commit itself to bridging any shortfall in funding when EU contributions expire in 1999.

Mr Pat McCann, president of the hotels representative body, described as "derisory" the combined State and EU contribution of less than £8 million for direct consumer marketing. He was speaking on the eve of the annual conference of the hotels body which begins today in Killarney.