A marketing campaign is needed to help the mid-west and west regions meet the challenges of the Open Skies agreement between the EU and United States, it was argued today.
Speaking today at the publication of the Shannon Development annual report for 2006, Kevin Thompstone chief executive said the new agreement presented unique challenges for the region.
"It is vital that this marketing support is put in place immediately because the Open Skies era is already upon us," Mr Thompstone, said.
"Evidence from the marketplace shows that we have a once-off opportunity to significantly raise our marketing efforts in important US markets to enable us to promote the Shannon Region and the West of Ireland as international holiday destinations" Mr Thompstone said.
He said the Shannon region was one of Ireland's best-performing tourist areas in 2006, with a 20 per cent growth in international visitor numbers.
