KILDARE GENERAL, 3 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. There's no reason why Kildare can't become the most visited county in the East Coast and Midlands Tourism Region, finance minister Charlie McCreevy said when he launched the Kildare Tourism Task Force Report yesterday.
In a two-centre launch at Athy Heritage Centre and the Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth, minister McCreevy noted that tourism in the county attracted some 160,000 overseas visitors in 2000 who generated almost 56m euros for the county, which currently the second most-visited in the region.
Noting the variety of attractions, ranging from horse-racing to many heritage centres, the minister said the report was particularly well timed, to ensure the county can get the best possible value and return for the significant level of state funding put into the industry.
"The key areas identified as essential to the successful progression of tourism in Kildare confirm that tourism providers mean business when it comes to providing a coordinated strategic approach to developing their county's assets to their fullest potential," he said. "While strengths and opportunities are taken for granted, the importantce of identifying weaknesses and threats cannot be overemphasised."
Minister McCreevy complimented Michael Mullally, chairman of the County Kildare Tourism Task Force, and Willie Carroll of the Community & Enterprise Department of Kildare County Council for their input and management of developing the report.
©2002knn
