It's been another interesting summer with lots happening. Some of the highlights for me were as follows:
- The reduced vat rate came into effect on the 1st July (from 13.5% to 9%)
- Almost €6 million worth of funding for four tourism projects was announced under Fáilte Ireland's Tourism Capital Investment Programme as follows: €2.7 million for a new setting for the Book of Kells within the grounds of Trinity College, €2.4 million for an intepretative centre at Garnish Island, €430,353for a Downhill Mountain Bike Trail in Killarney and €212,250 for the further development of infrastructure at Lough Rynn including the existing caravan and capsite, a rowing facility and provision of fishing pontoons
- PSO subsidies to regional airports in Sligo, Knock, Galway and Waterford were abolished. However the government decided to continue to support services to Kerry and Donegal airports. Loganair has been awarded a three year contract for the Donegal/Dublin service and Aer Arann the contract for the Kerry Dublin service were will enjoy a subsidy
- The final phase of the Great Western Greenway opened, a superb 42 km off-road cycling and walking route from Westport to Achill
- ITIC has launched a major review of tourism in the West of Ireland here
- Visits to Ireland increased by over 15% for the months of April, May and June 2011 compared to the same period last year. Good news, but remember that the ash cloud in April 2010? Not too many people were travelling then, so I guess we'll have to wait for later in the year to get a better picture of where numbers are at
I'm looking forward to the next few months already, they promise to be even more interesting!
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