It is always a pleasure to be in Cork. It is an even greater pleasure to be here in this most scenic area of the county, to officially open the Capella Castlemartyr Hotel and Resort.
Today is a particularly happy day for Barry Supple and his family and for everyone involved in John F. Supple and Co., who have developed and promoted this fine new resort. It is a very welcome and valuable addition to Ireland’s stock of world class hotels.
It is quite an achievement to have secured the involvement, as the operators, of Capella Hotels and Resorts. Capella is one of the most innovative hotel brands to emerge on the world scene in recent years. It operates in the luxury market. And it has become synonymous with style and quality through its landmark hotels in the USA, Singapore, Mexico and Germany. I am delighted to offer Capella a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ to Ireland. I am also delighted to hear that that you have plans to operate a second hotel here in County Cork in the near future.
This handsome property is the latest in an extensive programme of renewal and expansion of Ireland’s hotel stock. Following a period of sustained investment, our hotel stock is now the most modern in Europe. More than €2.2 billion has been invested in new and expanded hotels over the past five years. Last year saw the opening of 87 new properties spread throughout the country. And since 2006, there has been an increase of 28% in the number of hotel bedrooms registered with Fáilte Ireland, across all classifications.
In recent years, we have seen a trend towards the creation of resorts offering high quality accommodation and a range of other amenities, such as golf. The Capella Castlemartyr Hotel is a fine example of this welcome trend. It combines the best of old world charm with contemporary luxury. There are all kinds of good reasons for staying here. I am told that the hotel can arrange for guests to go out on the water with a local fisherman and that it is happy to introduce them to all of the varied aspects of Irish culture which abound here in East Cork. I have even been told that the hotel can organise visits to a local beekeeper to buy honey.
This personalised service reflects the best of the Irish tradition of hospitality, which is at the core of Irish tourism. In a world market which is increasingly competitive, it is unique quality experiences such as these that create compelling reasons for visitors to choose Ireland as a holiday destination.
Our tourist industry provides such experiences and memories at all levels of the market and this is reflected in the numbers of visitors who choose Ireland as a holiday destination. The Irish tourism industry recorded its sixth year of sustained growth in 2007 and the sector now accounts for almost 4% of GNP.
Our visitors also continue to express high levels of satisfaction with their Irish holiday. Fáilte Ireland reports a record number of 7.8 million visitors and revenue of €6.5 billion for 2007. And their most recent research shows that 98% of visitors said that they would recommend a holiday in Ireland to family and friends. These are impressive figures by any standards.
Tourists are now more discerning than ever. And they can afford to be, with an unprecedented range of holidays and destinations to choose from. It is vital to the future success of the Irish tourism industry therefore that we offer quality, value and memorable experiences to all our visitors. This requires considerable investment, extensive training and commitment from a wide spectrum of businesses and most important of all - a recognition by all our citizens of the importance of tourism for our economy. Everyone can play a part in this - not least by taking care of the environment. The need for a strong focus on quality and value is reinforced by the more challenging global economic conditions that lie ahead.
The Government is committed to the development of a quality tourism product and supports the industry directly and through State agencies such as Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Under the new National Development Plan, we are investing €800 million in tourism marketing, training and product development. This year’s Budget provides for a record allocation of €170 million for the industry, including €50 million specifically allocated to overseas tourism marketing. This level of expenditure will enable Ireland to compete effectively in traditional and emerging markets. It will facilitate the recruitment and training of people for the 6,000 jobs which are created by the industry every year. It will also drive product development and promote excellence at individual and enterprise level.
All in all, the Government is working hard to support the tourism industry and to create an environment which encourages and rewards enterprise. And the tourism industry has responded very positively through the creation of new hotels and resorts. The Capella Castlemartyr Hotel and Resort is an excellent example of this. It has brought about the creation of 300 new jobs. It has enhanced the attractions of East Cork as a tourism destination. And it will provide guests with Irish hospitality of the highest quality.
Today, we begin a new chapter to the history of this scenic and historic estate. I am sure it will reward those who have invested in the hotel’s creation and bring happy memories to all who stay here. May you enjoy many, many years of success with the Capella Castlemartyr Hotel and Resort.
Thank you.
ENDS