The clock is ticking down at Spencer Dock in Dublin as the opening of the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) nears.

This is undoubtedly the most significant piece of tourism infrastructure to be added to Ireland’s product line-up in many decades. No one can say that Ireland was hasty in creating a national conference and exhibition centre, but now that it’s about to arrive, will we be impressed?

ITIC went there this week for a preview and met up with Dermod Dwyer, Chairman of the CCD. Click on the image below to hear what he had to say.

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July 28th 2010

A major report was published today by ITIC titled, A Changed World for Irish Tourism – facing up to the challenges of recovery.

The report says that Irish tourism faces an ongoing difficult trading period due to anaemic economic recovery in its main source markets. It recommends, among other things, a strategy of greater focus on the top 4 producing overseas source markets, Britain, the United States, Germany and France.

The ITIC commissioned report was undertaken by Tourism & Transport Consult International Ltd (TTC). ITIC spoke about the report’s findings with principal author and Managing Director of TTC, Noel Sweeney. Click on the image below to hear what he had to say.

For a copy of the full report CLICK HERE.

For a copy of the Executive Summary CLICK HERE.

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July 22nd 2010

One of the tourism industrys most eminent spokespersons is undoubtedly John Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Hotels Federation.

Later this month John will retire after over 40 distinguished years in the industry, the last 14 of which were as Chief Executive of the IHF.

He spoke with ITIC this week, so click on the image below to hear his views on Irish tourism past, present and future.

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July 20th 2010

About this time last year ITIC went to Kerry and spoke with a cross section of the Tourism Industry there about how things were then. They were getting on with it, but all said there was lots of room for improvement.

At that time Kerry were out of the Munster Football Championship, but as we all know we must never underestimate Kerry, and right enough, they came in through the back door and walked off with the big Championship prize last September. This year they are the Munster Champions already. That’s Kerry resilience for you.

ITIC went back to a sunny but windy Kerry this week to see if that same spirit and determination is seeing them through this difficult time for travel and tourism.

Click on the images below to see what we found.

Margaret Cahill – Chairperson, B&B Ireland

Jim Feeney – General Manager, Parknasilla Resort

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July 13th 2010

In June 2009 an ITIC ezine alerted readers to the impending test flight of a solar-powered plane. Well, things have moved on since then.

One of the many issues facing such a plane was, what happens at night when there is no sun to power it along? The good news is that this barrier appears to have been overcome.

Solar Impulse, which has a wing span similar to an Airbus A340, earlier this week flew for 26 hours and 9 minutes powered only by solar energy stored during the day.

The Solar Impulse, which has 12,000 solar cells built into its wings, is a prototype for an aircraft that its creators hope will carry out its first circumnavigation of the globe by 2012. The Swiss president of the project said the success of the flight showed the potential of renewable energies and clean technologies. And with what must be seen as a small touch of hyperbole he added, "we are on the verge of perptual flight."

There’s a long way to go yet before thinking about commercial adaptation, not least that the carbon-fibre plane had just an average speed of 23 knots at an altitude of about 25,000 feet.

But still, would you bet against it? Sending men to the moon and bringing them back in a type of aircraft would have seemed a pretty ludicrous proposition to Wilbur and Orville Wright when they kicked off air travel a hundred years or so ago.

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July 9th 2010

Amid all the gloom which has surrounded the economy and the tourism business in recent times, it is really heartening to have a good news story, and there are plenty of those around.

The sparkle of a new beginning is evident in Waterford with the opening of the brand new House of Waterford Crystal. Here, once again, you can see exquisite pieces of crystal created before your eyes by highly skilled craftsmen using unique and traditional methods. Waterford’s and the South East’s biggest tourist attraction is back in business, and that’s really good news.

ITIC spoke with David McCoy, Commericial Director of the new House of Waterford Crystal, so click on the image below to get the full story.

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July 7th 2010