Tourism

New Paris Tourism Event

Knock Passengers Down

The number of people travelling through Knock Airport fell in 2013 but the company says it is ahead of this year’s 700,000 target.

The latest accounts for Connaught Airport Development Company, which operates the Co Mayo airport, state that it lost €659,000 before tax last year, excluding aid received from the taxpayer.

The company also reports that passenger numbers for the year were 665,400, 3 per cent below the record of 686,000 that it reached in 2012, when airlines launched a number of new services from there to destinations in Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

The directors’ report, signed by chairman Joe Kennedy, states that the airport was confident of reversing the decline this year “with further positive growth in passenger numbers”.

East Coast is Top Golf Venue

Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance has been named European Golf Destination of the Year for 2015. A total of 540 golf tour operators in 62 countries voted for Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance.

TD Raps Hotels on Summit Rates

Fianna Fáil’s tourism spokesman Timmy Dooley has criticised Dublin hotels that have hiked up their room rates ahead of the Web Summit next week.

Many hotels will be at full capacity as thousands of delegates arrive into the city for the three-day event.

Speaking to the 'Irish Examiner', Mr. Dooley said: “While I appreciate that hotels have come through a tough time, visitor numbers are up and the 9% Vat rate has been maintained. Despite this, some hotels have doubled and even tripled their prices for the duration of the conference.