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THE FOOD SECTOR is pivotal for Irish tourism and export growth, new research suggests.
Food: The secret ingredient to Irish tourism and Export Growth, was released today by Good Food Ireland and Grant Thornton. The authors say the report highlights “the importance of linking food with tourism to create new market opportunities driving demand for Irish food and the tourism hospitality sector”.
The objective of the report was to establish the importance of Irish food as an economic driver, analyse business needs and challenges and collate insights on emerging trends in the sector. It also reinforces the link between Irish food and tourism. Good Food Ireland said its approved providers contribute in the region of €50million to the Irish economy through their purchasing of Irish produce.
Margaret Jeffares, founder and MD of Good Food Ireland said:
Food experience has a strategic role to play in positioning tourism and export growth. The findings of the report have reinforced the Good Food Ireland vision around the importance of local food in delivering economic opportunity through authentic experience. Given our current economic situation, I cannot stress enough the importance of buying local, eating local and thinking local when it comes to food and tourism.
The report showed that 100 per cent of Good Food Ireland-approved providers surveyed agreed that local Irish food should be an integral part of Ireland’s international tourism marketing.
The survey showed that despite challenging and economic trading conditions, two out of every three respondents met earning expectations in 2011 and 4 out of 5 of them expect growth in 2012.
Of those surveyed, 24 per cent are currently exporting, and within that group, 53 per cent have plans to target new markets. A further 17 per cent have plans to export in the future.
Access to finance and increased operating and raw material costs, as well as weaker domestic demand, were highlighted as significant challenges by business owners.
Ciara Jackson, Head of Food and Beverage with Grant Thornton Ireland, said:
We are excited by the strength of the economic link created where high quality food produce strengthen brands, which in turn attracts tourists, all of which helps to sustain and grow business. Leveraging Irishness is a route to growing earnings.
To coincide with the report, Good Food Ireland in association with Grant Thornton is holding a series of Regional Conferences for help food and hospitality businesses.
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Value for money is often overlooked. I’m appalled to see that some restaurants charge forty euros for a steak or a piece of salmon. This has to end if we want tourists to flock to this emerald island!
As someone who’s been travelling to Ireland for 20+ years, making multiple trips per year in over the last several years, I’ve experienced from a tourist’s perspective how food has changed in that time.
I would absolutely love to have the access to high quality meat, produce and dairy in the US that I enjoy when I go to Ireland. When I visit Ireland now (as opposed to 20 years ago), I really look forward to the food side of the experience. So much so, that I’m gong to my first Irish food festival in May – Inishfood. It’s sure to be a brilliant event and although I’m not travelling to Ireland expressly for it, I’m happy that my trip is coinciding with it.
I will always go to Ireland primarily to see its people – my relatives in particular. But I must say, for a foodie like me, the added attraction of Irish food is a strong pull.
Good Food Ireland says food essential to Irish tourism
Irish Federation of University Teachers says Irish university lecturers are harder working than their european counterparts.
News or press release aggregation… you decide!
Trolololololololol
Perceptions of our food abroad are still terrible, and most foreigners say the food here is bad. That’s because they usually eat the pub food, which is generally bad in many areas. We’ve a lot of work to do in highlighting the really great food that we do have in this country.
That’s not true. Irish food produce is considered a premium product in most European countries. Irish food, especially artisan foods can become a strong employer and revenue generator in Ireland.
It is true Fagan. Ask people – normal people who visit this country – not people involved in the food industry. People still laugh at Irish food abroad because in many places, they are being fed crap. Standards have to improve at many places frequented by tourists.
We can admit the problem, or fill ourselves with crap about how great everything is. I know you can get great food here – but do our visitors? Most of the ones I ask (and I work in a business quite exposed to visitors) say the food here is rubbish.
All I can see opening up everywhere and doing well are Chinese restaurants and take aways. So much for choice and Irish food. Love the odd one myself as well though.
Tourism Ireland don’t mind pylons all over the country and more to come. I can see a lot of tourists with their cameras taking pictures of the new pylons across the country. The head of the Tourist board should resign if the pylons go ahead. I bet they don’t even lodge an objection.
I think outside of Ireland Irish food products such as Irish beef and vegetables are looked upon well, but we are not really known for any major dishes par a small few. But I think we can
Correct this over time.
What’s the story with the commercial rent? Is it only able to go up? If so that is fundamental to lower prices!
what about Irish beef (our small island is one of the largest exporters in the world). Irish milk is the chosen supplier for up to a third of baby milk formula (what we feed to our precious kiddies). Irish fish hits the French markets with in hours of being landed on these shores(cos we don’t eat it).
we do food well but don’t do national pride in our achievements very well! btw..you can eat lunch in most Dublin eateries for under a tenner (what it was ten years ago) and no operators can survive on just the tourists, they need the locals and this means compete or die! so there!
I think the message is getting confused here. Are we talking about Irish Food here or Irish Cuisine? We have the raw ingredients but love to convert them into overcooked carvery lunches which our tourists are apalled by.
Irish butter and cheese are considered premium products in the U.S. However, there is no advertising or publicity for other Irish foodstuffs.
On the minus side John , i see Irish stew but on the plus side.. .. Irish coffee!! I have to admit though, it is harder to eat well for a good price out side of the larger cities but i think Irish restaurants can hold their own(compared to 20years ago)
have your say