Visit Cork has announced plans to boost Cork’s tourism and hospitality industry, which supported an estimated 22,500 jobs prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yesterday (10 February), the Cork tourism body launched its strategic plan for 2022-2026 at its Tourism Industry Day.
Visit Cork is the official tourism body for the Cork region with responsibility for attracting leisure (Pure Cork) and business tourists (Cork Convention Bureau).
Speaking about an exciting new plan to showcase Cork as a sustainable tourism destination, Séamus Heaney, Head of Visit Cork said:
“Our plan is to showcase the wealth of Pure Cork experiences delivered with a new focus on Cork as a sustainable tourism destination. This positioning will open huge opportunities as sustainable holidays and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) business is expected to be one of the biggest future tourism trends.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined the briefing virtually, saying that the Government is fully backing this endeavour to continue growing Cork’s tourism industry with a new and sustainable approach:
“As a proud Corkonian, I know only too well the wonderful sights the region has to offer, and the warmth of its people. Tourism has so much to offer in supporting sustainable growth.
“The Government fully supports Visit Cork’s determination to drive job creation, economic development, and to ensure Cork remains a welcoming place for innovation, talent and tourists alike.”
Visit Cork will continue to work with the local hospitality industry, hosting an annual ‘Smart Tourism’ seminar and training sessions. A Cork Convention Bureau Member Sustainability Charter will also be created, and the team will incentivise trade partners through a yearly Visit Cork Green Award. There are also plans to continue with the Visit Cork Green Week, which commenced in 2021.
In addition, all business tourism clients who are hosting a conference or event in Cork, will be presented with CSR (corporate social responsibility) options to support Cork social, environmental and economic causes, and a legacy and social impact programme will be put in place for all future events.
Visit Cork also outlined that there will be a more consistent approach to marketing the region’s unique experiences and offering, and announced their aim to increase the annual marketing spend to €1 million to promote Cork to leisure and business tourists.