13 new Tourism Ambassadors for north Kerry have been presented with certificates by the Listowel Municipal District Leas-Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mike Kennelly, upon their completion of the very first Tourism Ambassador Programme in Kerry.
The initiative was developed by Kerry County Council’s Tourism Unit in association with the Institute of Technology in Tralee and the Destination Kerry Tourism Forum. The programme invited participants from a broad range of tourism businesses and organisations to complete a course which covered an overview of tourism in north Kerry, the value and importance of tourism to the region and ensuring that visitors stay longer in the area and leave with memorable experiences.
Lecturers from IT Tralee’s Hotel, Culinary and Tourism Department delivered the two-night course with participants from the following businesses/organisations attending: Moriarty’s Centra & Post Office in Ballyheigue, Ballybunion Golf Club, Lartigue Monorail & Museum, Pods Ireland in Asdee, Ballybunion Tourist Office, Ballybunion Health & Leisure Centre, The Seanchaí Kerry Writers Museum, Ballybunion Prints and Ballybunion Sand Art, Listowel Arms Hotel, Ballylongford Tidy Towns, Allo’s Bar & Bistro and the White Sands Hotel in Ballyheigue.
Fáilte Ireland was represented at the presentation of certificates by Fiona Monaghan, Head of Wild Atlantic Way and Siobhan King, Client Services Officer for North Kerry and both spoke highly of the initiative.
Joan McCarthy, Head of Tourism Development, Kerry County Council said: “The spirit of
collaboration is vital if we are to succeed in keeping our visitors in the area by slowing the visitor down and everyone taking responsibility for putting north Kerry on the visitor map.” Ms McCarthy confirmed that the programme will be rolled out to other parts of the county in the future.
Pictured: Fiona Monaghan Failte Ireland, David Griffin, Pods Ireland, Cllr Dianne Nolan, Eibhlís Hanrahan, Ballylongford Tidy Towns, Cara Trant, Seanchaí Kerry Writers Museum, Siobhan King Failte Ireland. Back: Helen Mullane, Allo’s Bar & Bistro, Abbey Murphy, Kerry County Council, Andy Smith, Kerry County Council, Fergus Dunne, I.T. Tralee, Jason Doherty, Ballybunion Prints, Cllr Mike Kennelly, Deputy Cathaoirleach, Joan McCarthy, Kerry County Council, Valerie Pickett, Lartigue Monorail & Museum, Cllr Jerry Moloney, Dan Cooke, Ballybunion Tourist Office, Martina Madden, White Sands Hotel, Michelle Culloo, Kerry County Council. Photo by Domnick Walsh
