A new initiative has been launched which aims to entice 525,000 extra tourists per year to Cork in the next five years.
The strategy, created by the Cork Tourism Strategy Taskforce, could be worth as much as an additional €214m annually to the local economy.
The taskforce consists of the Chief Executives of Cork City and County Councils, as well as members of Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and local stakeholders.
The Irish Examiner reports that the plan intends to attract visitors from Britain, Germany, France and North America, and it hopes to create 9,000 more full-time and seasonal jobs in the industry.
Ger O'Mahoney, Chairman of the Cork Tourism Strategy Taskforce, said “the research we commissioned during the development of this strategy points to a unique opportunity for a specific visitor proposition for Cork”.
He mentioned that Cork currently accounts for 17.5% of all overseas visitors that come to Ireland, and is second to Dublin in terms of tourist bed nights.
"Today is just the beginning of a process to implement our ambitious five year plan and I have no doubt this collaboration will continue as the strategy is rolled out".
