In this Issue: |
NITB report £:500m tourist spend for 2005:
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board have published a report entitled "Tourism in Northern Ireland, A Strategic Framework for Action 2004-2007 Year 2 Review". The report announced total tourist revenue in excess of £:500m with visitor nights approaching 10m.
Improved direct international air access was acknowleged as being very beneficial with European visitor numbers up by 32% and North American visitor numbers up by 20%. Increased competition from emerging Eastern European destinations and the loss of the SeaCat route in late 2004 were cited as the main reasons for the failure to increase the numbers of British visitors.
more>>
full report>>(.pdf)
Countryside Access:
The recent High Court ruling against the Enniskerry Walking Association could lead to the loss of many unregistered walking/access routes if action is not taken to protect them. Although "Lambe's Lane" had traditonally been used by locals as a public route, the fact that the land had not been dedicated to the public by the owners was taken to mean that no public right of way existed.
more>>
Travel and Tourism Statistics
The Central Statistics Office have released Travel and Tourism statistics for the first quarter of 2006. The following table shows where visitors came from and the type of accommodation they chose.
more... (.pdf)
,000 Bednights | Great Britain | Other Europe | USA & Canada | Other Areas | ||||||||
Jan-Mar 2005 |
Jan-Mar 2006 |
% +/- | Jan-Mar 2005 |
Jan-Mar 2006 |
% +/- | Jan-Mar 2005 |
Jan-Mar 2006 |
% +/- | Jan-Mar 2005 |
Jan-Mar 2006 |
% +/- | |
Hotel | 824 | 987 | +19.6 | 462 | 559 | +21.0 | 417 | 331 | -20.6 | 104 | 112 | +7.7 |
Guesthouse/B&B | 188 | 207 | +10.1 | 232 | 253 | +9.1 | 131 | 144 | +9.9 | 50 | 25 | -50 |
Rented House/Apartment | 357 | 207 | -42.0 | 947 | 1,085 | +14.6 | 199 | 191 | -4.0 | 186 | 80 | -57.0 |
Caravan/Camping | 4 | 8 | +100 | 11 | 5 | -54.5 | 1 | 0 | -100 | 0 | 5 | ++++ |
Hostel | 43 | 28 | -34.9 | 132 | 163 | +23.5 | 50 | 75 | +50.0 | 23 | 19 | -17.4 |
Friends/Relatives | 1,045 | 1,582 | +12.6 | 822 | 1,462 | +77.9 | 373 | 447 | +19.8 | 310 | 308 | -0.6 |
Other | 177 | 100 | -43.5 | 344 | 296 | -14.0 | 48 | 53 | +10.4 | 36 | 14 | -61.1 |
Total | 2,998 | 3,119 | +4.0 | 2,950 | 3,823 | +29.6 | 1,219 | 1,241 | +1.8 | 709 | 563 | -20.6 |
Total Tourist Accommodation | 1,416 | 1,437 | +1.5 | 1,784 | 2,065 | +15.6 | 798 | 741 | -7.1 | 363 | 241 | -33.6 |
Blue Flag Beaches:
Ireland has been awarded 84 Blue Flags by the International Blue Flag Jury, 81 for beaches and 3 for marinas. This is the highest number of Blue Flags that Ireland has ever been awarded, we are up 2 flags from last year. 88 beaches and 4 marinas applied for Blue Flag status this year.
According to the Blue Flag Campaign, to gain a Blue Flag, beaches have to meet 29 criteria and marinas 22 criteria covering; water quality, beach/marina management, safety, services and facilities, environmental education and information.
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Dogs banned from Clare beaches:
Dogs are now banned from Clare beaches from 11am to 6pm during the summer months. Clare County Council have created the new crime which carries penalties of on-the-spot fines of €125 or fines of up to €1,270 if the case goes to court.
more>>
New Flights:
Cork:
Travel News
From | To | Start Date | Days | Airline |
---|---|---|---|---|
Belfast | Doncaster | 29th October | 2 Daily | Flybe |
Belfast | Galway | 29th October | Daily | Flybe |
Cork | Birmingham | 25th June | 3 Weekly | Aer Lingus |
Cork | Berlin | 27th June | 3 Weekly | Aer Lingus |
Cork | Tenerife | 1st July | Weekly | Aer Lingus |
Cork | Katowice | 14th July | 3 Weekly | Wizz Air |
Cork | Nantes | Now | 2 Weekly | Aer Arann |
Cork | Lorient | Now | 2 Weekly | Aer Arann |
Dublin | New York | 16th May | Daily | Delta |
Lemon Posset
Ingredients:
284ml carton of double cream
Directions:
1. Pour cream and sugar into a small saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar. Once boiling cook for a further three minutes EXACTLY, still stirring constantly.
2. Remove from the heat and pour in half the lemon juice whilst stirring the mixture thoroughly. It should start to thicken instantly. Taste the mixture and if its not quite tart enough for your tastes then put a little more juice in. It should be nice and tangy but still very rich.
3. Allow the posset to cool for approximately five minutes and then pour into two glasses. The posset will start to visibly thicken as it hits the cool glass. Cover with clingfilm and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours. The posset should be quite firmly set when you come to serve it.
A person's true wealth is the good he or she does in the world. (Mohammed)
Recipe
As a tasty accompaniment why not put some strawberry or raspberry coulis or fresh fruit on top of the posset just before serving and serve with a biscuit or some shortbread for dipping with.
75g caster sugar
2 medium lemons, juice of
(Serves 2)
Final
Thought
Slán
Travel Directories Ireland
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