The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry a high priority at Meitheal ‘18
KERRY was among the best-represented counties at Fáilte Ireland’s 2018 Meitheal event in CityWest this past week, with some 30 of the 360 businesses at Ireland’s largest annual trade event hailing from the Kingdom.
Accommodation providers, entertainment centres, medicine walks, visitor centres, attraction managers, stables, and airports were just some of the eclectic band of businesses that made the journey up to Dublin from April 17 to 18 to sell the best of Kerry to tourism buyers from all corners of the planet.
Each buyer potentially represents thousands of customers, possibly adding huge Kerry influence to many travel plans worldwide for the year ahead. On the back of the event, a small group have decided to visit west and south Kerry, taking in sights such as Louis Mulcahy’s pottery studio, Ionad an Bhlascaoid, the acclaimed Inch Beach, and Molly Gallivan’s Irish night and dinner in Kenmare.
“I was delighted to welcome the overseas delegates to this year’s Meitheal together with the Irish tourism trade, especially from the Kerry area,” Kerry-based Minister of State Brendan Griffin TD said.
“I’m confident that over the week, they got to see first-hand what it is that sets Ireland apart as an outstanding visitor destination.”
Fáilte Ireland Head of Commercial Development Paul Mockler said: ““Ireland is very much noted for being the land of a thousand welcomes but tourism for us is not just about the big welcome – it is one of the country’s leading industries and a key economic driver. Tourism generates economic activity in communities such as Kerry, and across the length and breadth of the country and, in many regions, it is the foremost industry. “Fáilte Ireland knows that, as an industry, we must not rest on our laurels and take this success for granted. That’s why, through initiatives like Meitheal, we always strive to work with tourism partners in Kerry to find ways to constantly develop our offer as we attract visitors from all walks of life and all corners of the globe.”