Funds allocated by the Government to market the 2002 tourism season are "inadequate," according to the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC).
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The ITIC’s
Recovery Programme
report calls for an additional investment of €20 million to be spent advertising and targeted marketing.
Speaking in Dublin today, ITIC chairman Mr Tony Kelly said the industry is facing "a major crisis". He said the Recovery Programme is designed to win back business lost in 2001 due to the foot and mouth scare, the global economic downturn and the aftermath of terrorist attacks in the United States.
Mr Kelly said it was "worrying and short-sighted that the funds available are below what is required." He said the report showed spending on overseas marketing was actually down on last year.
With estimates of 7,000 to 10,000 direct and indirect job lost as a result of the downturn in 2001, the report claims that a further erosion in tourism in 2002 on a similar scale could put another 10,000 to 12,000 jobs at risk.
