Tourism development agency Fáilte Ireland is seeking to boost investment in new and existing visitor attractions with almost €100 million in aid.
Launching the package yesterday, chairwoman Gillian Bowler said the money would be used to stimulate investment in the "things to do and see" category. The money is being made available under the National Development Plan and is part of an overall €137 million aid scheme for tourism.
According to Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn, €50 million will be used to upgrade 20 of the State's key existing visitor attractions.
A further €14 million has been earmarked to encourage the development of "two or three major new iconic Irish cultural attractions of international appeal".
The agency plans to spend €6 million on developing historic and ornamental gardens. Outdoor activities, that are key to the continued viability of rural areas that depend on tourism, will get €28 million. These would include water sports, outdoor activities, horse-riding and fishing.
The industry wants to increase visitor numbers to 10 million by 2012, by which time Ms Bowler predicted competition between destinations would be more intense.
She warned that the State should beware of getting complacent about the quality of what it offered visitors. "Our potential visitors, bombarded with choice, will also become much more demanding and discerning," she said. "Our continued success will therefore depend on our ability to meet higher expectations in terms of variety, quality, authenticity and value for money."
