This article is from page 25 of the 2007-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
SHANNON Airport and Aer Lingus will undoubtedly be on the lips of those who attend the 19th Annual National Tourism Conference, which takes place in Ennistymon’s Falls Hotel on November 23 and 24.
The Clare Tourist Council in con- junction with Clare County Council, have organised the conference which this year will have media darling and Ryanair Chief, Michael O’Leary, as it’s keynote speaker.
This year’s conference, which is entitled entitled “Tourism for Chang- ing Lifestyles’, will attract delegates from all over the island of Ireland including representatives of Failte Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation,
Shannon Development, Shannon Heritage and the Clare Tourism Fo- rum.
“Mr O’Leary’s eagerly anticipat- ed keynote speech comes at a time when the west of Ireland faces losing its strategically important link with Heathrow, as a result of Aer Lingus recent decision to remove the service from Shannon,’ said former Mayor of Clare and Conference Chairper- son, Flan Garvey.
“The Ryanair Chief Executive’s decision to address the event shows that he is concerned about the move and the importance of maintaining permanent and quality connectivity with international hubs.
“During his talk, entitled “Options and Opportunities for Changing
Lifestyle’, Mr OLeary will refer to Ryanair’s commitment to develop- ing further business at Shannon. His speech also coincides with the launch of the airline’s new daily Shannon to Dublin service.”
Other major speakers to address the conference include Mary Owens, Failte Ireland’s Manager of Educa- tion Policy, who will discuss the role played by education and training in supporting the future development of Irish tourism, Joe Horan, Coun- ty Manager, South Dublin County Council and Marie Slattery, Sales and Marketing Manager, Shannon elute: txen
The conference sessions will be chaired by Alderman PJ McAvoy of Ballymena Borough Council, Alder-
man Frank Campbell of Balymoney Borough Council and Cllr Michael McCarey of Cavan County Council.
“Along with our co-organisers Clare County Council, we have wit- nessed some dramatic changes with- in the tourism sector over the past 19 years. Now, more than ever before, the industry has to reinvent itself if it is to sustain growth in the tourism sector,’ said Conference Secretary, Kathleen Cahill.
“Since our first conference in 1989 the sector has become more turbulent and increasingly price-conscious. Therefore, it 1s incumbent upon all individuals and organisations in- volved in tourism to get involved in the promotion of the entire sector all over the island of Ireland.”