IRELAND SHOULD CAPITALISE on the success of golfers such as Rory McIlroy in order to attract tourists, Fine Gael Cork North Central Deputy, Dara Murphy, has said.

Irish golf has enjoyed unprecedented levels of success of late, with Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington all winning majors in recent years.

And Murphy believes these successes, coupled with a strategy that involves putting an emphasis on its reputation for having “some of the best golf courses in the world”, will ensure an increase in tourists visiting the country.

Murphy stated:

“As part of the Jobs Initiative announced by Minister Bruton, a focus has been given to boosting the tourist sector in a bid to creating and retaining jobs and stimulating economic activity.Creative thinking about how best to attract tourists to our shores is what is needed and the halving of the lower rate of PRSI, the introduction of a second lower rate of VAT and the short-term Visa Waiver Programme will all go some way to doing just that.”

Murphy also said that he had written to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, in an attempt to persuade him to consider launching this campaign.

He believes Ireland should do more to promote its golfing facilities, in a similar vein to Portugal and Scotland – countries that are “synonymous with golfing holidays” according to Murphy, who added that he is confident athletes such as McIlroy would be willing to partake in such a scheme.

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