Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF) held a Members’ Day at the Gleneagle Hotel last week.

Emer Corridan (Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Irish Hotel Federation Kerry Branch) and Pádraig Treacy of (Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce) at the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation members meeting. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Rose Wall (Listowel Business and Community Alliance) and Colette O’Connor (Tralee Chamber Alliance) Claire O’Shea (Kerry College) and Joan Flavin (Listowel Business and Community Alliance) at the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation members meeting. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Members of the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation Sustainability Sub-committee at the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation members meeting in The Gleneagle Hotel. From l-r were: Gráinne Kelliher Mary Rose Stafford John Edwards Ann Courtney and Becky Hargrove. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Nathan McDonnell John Edwards and John Reen (Tralee Chamber Alliance) at the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation members meeting in The Gleneagle Hotel. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Chairperson Pat O’Leary spoke of how the tourism industry of Kerry has used the platform of KTIF since its establishment in 2020 to form solutions to challenges faced by the industry and represent the industry with a collective voice at both county and national level.

In its four years of operation, KTIF has also raised the profile and advocated for tourism industry education and upskilling.

In 2021 and 2022, KTIF’s active sustainability sub-committee worked with industry partners to achieve a Global Destination Sustainability ranking of 13th in the world.

The federation also continues to lead the collaborative destination marketing for Kerry through its tourism brand Discover Kerry.

Members of KTIF are being encouraged to support the development of www.discoverkerry.com which is a partnership project of KTIF, Kerry SciTech, and Kerry County Council.

Chairperson Pat O’Leary is encouraging the business and tourism communities around Kerry to engage further with the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation member organisation.

KTIF also welcomed the Fáilte Ireland team to the meeting and Jill de Azevedo presented visitor survey findings for Kerry which was very positive and gave much encouragement as well as points for discussion for the members.

“We are encouraged by the support of the many local business and community alliances, regional tourism networks, and representative agencies who make up the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation membership," Pat O’Leary said.

"Together, we will continue to advocate for the tourism industry at local and national Government levels, provide the platform and forum for the development of sustainability policies and initiatives for the tourism sector, support industry education/upskilling and collaborative destination marketing for Kerry.”