700 new tourism jobs by 2020

Up to 700 new tourism jobs could be created in Offaly in the next five years.

That’s according to the newly rebranded Offaly Tourism Group, which has set itself the ambitious target of more than doubling the number of overseas visitors to the county by 2020.

Promoting the county as ‘Ireland’s Hidden Gem’, Offaly Tourism Group wants to grow overseas visitors numbers from 37,000 (2013) to 75,000 in 2020 and increase tourist revenue in the county by €8 million.

The group believe that the rebranding of Offaly Tourism has the potential to create 700 new jobs - with every 55 overseas visitors supporting one tourism job.    

The new brand, which forms the centrepiece of a new €100,000 promotional campaign, was launched yesterday, Monday, by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, in Lough Boora Discovery Park.

Speaking at the launch, he said that the county has a lot going for it.

  “Offaly has a number of distinct advantages, not least in terms of the richness of the natural assets and cultural heritage in the area, but also, its central location in the heart of Ireland and the easy access from several gateway access points. I would urge continued close collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and other key partners in delivery so that the development of tourism in Offaly can be fully integrated with the Ireland’s Ancient East experience brand.”