The Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, has said he is committed to awarding the tender for a national conference centre by next summer.
Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue
The Minister made his comments at Fáilte Ireland's first Business Tourism Forum conference in Dublin today.
He said: "There has been enormous investment in Ireland's tourism infrastructure, both private and public, and this was a necessary precursor to expanding our business tourism sector. There are areas that still need to be addressed."
"I am committed to ensuring that the contract for the National Conference Centre is awarded by summer 2005. Nobody should be in any doubt that this project will be delivered. There are real challenges, but they will be addressed and overcome as a priority," he added.
The conference also heard that Fáilte Ireland, the national development authority for tourism, has targeted an increase of 17.5 per cent in the value of business visitors to Ireland by 2007.
Business visitors, according to Fáilte Ireland, spend on average 70 per cent more than holiday makers during their stay. The anticipated increase in spending would equate to €500 million in annual earnings by 2007.
The Business Tourism Forum was set up by Fáilte Ireland in July of this year to increase growth in the business travel sectorm, which is already worth €250 million a year to Ireland.
Ms Gillian Bowler, Chairman of Fáilte Ireland, said: "I am very pleased to see the level of commitment and interest in business tourism. Despite all the predictions and technological developments, it remains the case that people are travelling to meet and do business in greater numbers than ever before."
