Rose funds hike to lure diaspora
HALF of the recently announced state funding hike for The Rose of Tralee will be used to attract more visitors from among the Irish Diaspora.
Last week Minister of State for Tourism Brendan Griffin announced that the Rose of Tralee would be receiving €30,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland for 2018.
The festival will received €15,000 as part of the tourism authority’s 2018 National Festivals and Events Programme and it is to receive an additional €15,000 to pilot a new project to encourage more visitors from the Irish diaspora.
Orla Carroll, Director of Strategic development with Fáilte Ireland explained the reasoning behind the increased funding allocation.
“We are delighted to once more provide support to the Rose of Tralee festival and we are particularly pleased to enter into a partnership with them to target increased visitors from the Irish diaspora,” she said.
The festival was born out of the original diaspora festival, An Tostal, so it perfectly fitting that it would have the potential to secure further tourism growth through its ability to reach out to the global Irish community,” Orla Carroll said.
Minister Griffin outlined some aspects that will be included in the pilot marketing drive.
“As a pilot project for 2018, Fáilte Ireland will work with the Rose of Tralee Festival organisers to target new Irish diaspora, inviting them home to attend the event,” he said.
“The additional budget being allocated to the Festival will cover activities such as international marketing, sales and digital, with the objective of increasing overseas visitor numbers to Tralee and surrounding areas during the course of the Festival,” Minister Griffin said.
“I am delighted to see that Fáilte Ireland continues to support the well-established Rose of Tralee Festival which contributes significantly to the local and wider economy. The event attracts international visitors and animates tourism activity in the region,” said Minister Girffin at the funding announcement.