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BROADCASTER Miriam O'Callaghan unveiled details today of a major tourism forum to take place in Killarney on November 25 and 26.

The Let’s Talk Tourism event will be sponsored by AIB, Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland, and will take place in association with Skål Republic of Ireland, the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation and Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce.

The forum, which will unfold in the Muckross Park Hotel, will explore and examine topics such as Brexit and its effect on tourism, the future of tourism in Ireland and is it just about quantity or quality, international tourism trends, tourism policy in Ireland and what is needed to grow tourism and jobs further, as well as rural tourism and how to spread the tourism wealth around the country.

Over 20 high-profile speakers are already confirmed for the forum, with more to be announced. The forum will be chaired by RTE TV and radio broadcast journalist Miriam O’Callaghan, it was confirmed at the launch in Dublin today. Guest speakers include Professor of Finance, TCD, Brian Lucey, Chief Executive Officer of the Dalata Hotel Group, Pat McCann and Irish Hotels Federation President, Joe Dolan. Other notable speakers include MEP, Sean Kelly, Independent TD, Michael Healy Rae and Chief Executive of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh.

On the evening of Friday, November 25, a business networking dinner will be held at The Brehon Hotel. Special guests being interviewed on the night will be former Kerry footballers Darragh, Tomás and Marc Ó Sé, who together hold 16 All Ireland medals, 12 All Stars Awards, 28 Munster titles and 257 Championship Appearances.

On Saturday, November 26, the forum goes to Dingle for the day and forum delegates will be shown how Dingle has developed food and rural tourism on the Dingle Peninsula over the last ten years and how it is booming as a result. A Taste of Kerry lunch will be hosted in Benner’s Hotel and Bridgestone Guide Writer John McKenna will be the keynote speaker at lunch.

The social itinerary of the conference includes the gala black tie Kerry IHF Christmas Ball at Muckross Park Hotel on Saturday night, November 26, hosted by the Kerry IHF Chairman Terence Mulcahy.

Sean O' Driscoll, Conference Chairman and Skal Republic of Ireland President, said: "Various sectors within the tourism industry have annual conferences to discuss the particular interests and issues involving their specific sector. However, there is no forum for the grassroots of all sectors within tourism to meet, to debate and discuss tourism. Our aim was to create a forum where tourism business owners and managers on the ground can discuss the future of tourism in Ireland and network and share business learnings.”

For further information or to book a place at Let's Talk Tourism- National Tourism Forum see www.ntf.ie or email or email info@ntf.ie
 

 
At the launch of the National Tourism Forum Let's Talk Tourism are Conor Bennigan, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Margaret O'Connor of AIB Business Banking, Sean Healy of AIB, Forum MC Miriam O'Callaghan, Skal Republic of Ireland President Sean O'Driscoll, Diarmuid Leen of AIB Business Banking; Kerry Hotel Federation Chairman Terence Mulcahy. PICTURE: MARC O'SULLIVAN