News Release -
Shannon Region Tourism Board hits out at inaction on Open Skies
Michael Houlihan, Chairman, Shannon Region Tourism Board, has expressed frustration at the delay in the Government’s response to the Open Skies crisis, and calls on Government to immediately sign off on a marketing support package which was costed out last year at €53 million. This was promised to sustain Shannon International Airport in an Open Skies environment.
“The €53 million marketing support package is needed now to prevent Shannon Airport losing valuable business and jeopardising its future survival. Airlines are making decisions NOW which will have long-term impact on the viability of the Shannon Airport and the Shannon Gateway into the future. Unless we have a marketing package in place we will be unable to put in place the proper support measures needed to meet the challenges ahead. It must be remembered that over 40,000 jobs along the western seaboard are dependent on the Airport.”
The recent announcements by American Airlines to cease its Shannon/Chicago air service, and by Air Canada to cease its Toronto service, combined with announcements by other airlines to reduce year round air services to seasonal ones, are already in the public domain. Adequate provisions must be made to ensure there are no more decisions of this kind,” he said.
“In April 2007 we wrote to the Government asking for the implementation of the recommendations in the Tourism and Economic Development Plan (the €53 million plan) which was submitted to Government last year. The mood among the Shannon Region Tourism Trade is one of anger. People feel this Government has let them down by not implementing the promised financial support.
The importance of the tourism sector to the local economy cannot be overstated. It currently brings over 1 million overseas visitors, 750,000 domestic visitors, and generates €400 million in tourism revenue for the Shannon Region.
The Tourism and Economic Development Plan recommends a package of tourism and economic actions to support the Region, but if the proposed €53 million investment is not injected into supporting the Western Regions over the next 5 years, then the future prosperity of the entire western seaboard is in serious jeopardy,” Mr. Houlihan concluded.
End
For further information please contact:
Nandi O’Sullivan
Public Relations Manager
Tel: +353 61 710259
Mobile: +353 86-2371510
Fax: 061 363180
E-mail: Click Here