[Colm Moore]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6954672.ece

Feeney’s €3.4m perk for tourists
The billionaire philanthropist is to co-fund a holiday voucher scheme to boost American tourism in Ireland
Stephen O’Brien Political Correspondent

Chuck Feeney, the billionaire philanthropist, is to co-fund a holiday voucher scheme to boost American tourism to Ireland next year.

The 78-year-old Irish American has offered to match government funds to revive the flagging tourism industry, which slumped by 12% this year.

Martin Cullen, the tourism minister, says Feeney contacted the government after the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh seeking a direct involvement in efforts to reverse the decline.

He will support a scheme to offer $100 holiday vouchers to Americans planning a trip to Ireland. Cullen says a fund of up to $5m (€3.4m) will be made available in a bid to increase visitor numbers by up to 50,000 next year.

Approximately 1m American tourists visit Ireland every year. While overall tourism numbers dropped by 12% last year, the fall-off in US visitors was 2%. The 3.5m-strong British market dropped 16%.

“This is real cash, not a discount scheme,” Cullen said. “[Visitors] can combine it with discount flights or accommodation offers.”

Failte Ireland, the tourism agency, is finalising plans to offer free rail travel vouchers to over-55s who are planning to holiday in Ireland. The internet scheme will allow thousands of older visitors to access free off-peak rail travel all over Ireland. The scheme may be extended to bus travel in 2010 or in subsequent years.