People who say there is little happening when it comes to promoting or developing tourism in County Sligo should first check the facts.

That's according to the regional manager of Failte Ireland North West Paul McLoone, during an interview with The Sligo Champion in response to a question about recent claims that County Donegal had got preference when it came to tourism promotion in the region.

However, Mr. McLoone insisted there was "a huge amount going on in Sligo."

"People making statements should check the facts. There is a huge mobilisation of the tourism sector in Sligo," said Mr. McLoone, going on to refer to developments and plans for the Model, Glencar Waterfall, Knocknarea, Benbulben and Doorly Park.

In 2009 almost 400,000 people visited Sligo generating over €100m in revenue for the local tourist industry. However most of the revenue generated was from the increase in the number of visitors from the domestic market as Sligo, like other parts of the country, was experiencing a sharp fall in the number of overseas visitors.

Against this backdrop, Mr. McLoone pointed out that Failte Ireland had invested hugely in the tourism product within Sligo, with close to €4m having been spent in the county over the past three years.

€1.6mn was spent on infrastructure projects enhancing facilities such as Doorly Park, Strandhill and four walking projects at Drumcliff, Benbulben, Rosses Point, and Lough Talt.

A further €1.6m was spent on supporting events in Sligo including the World Rally in 2009.

Over €400,000 was spent on joint marketing activities in Sligo including partnership campaigns with the trade and publicity/familiarisation trips by overseas journalists.

A further €300,000 has been spent delivering training and enterprise support to the trade.

The board was also the final stages of putting together a document to attract €4m for Stage 2 of The Model, together with proposals for Glencar Waterfall, Benbulben, Knocknarea and Doorly Park.

He also hoped an application would be put in from Sligo to host the AllIreland Fleadh Cheoil in the town.

And despite the current recession, with all its cutbacks, Mr. McLoone was adamant that funding was available for tourism projects in Sligo . . . if the projects are ready.

He recalled that at the Farmleigh conference last year, which brought together the top business people in Ireland and from the Irish diaspora, tourism was top of the agenda and consequently there was an appetite in government to support good ideas and innovation within the tourism sector.

"We have proven that by working with the agencies in Donegal, we can attract funding. Last Friday, Failte Ireland allocated €2m for Slieve League," said Mr. McLoone, giving an example of funding being given despite the recession.

He also reiterated the importance of the internationally recognised Yeats connection, Benbulben and Lissadell House to the promotion of tourism in Sligo.

Saying Lissadell House was "crucial", he emphasized that whatever the outcome of the current High Court case over alleged rights of way across the estate, "we all have to regroup and work at this."

"Irrespective of the outcome, we will work with people to develop Lissadell House as an iconic attraction for Sligo," he said.

As for other areas, he pointed out that work had commenced at Benbulben, which he described as " the magnet for Sligo." There was an application for funding for works at Knocknarea. Work had commenced at Doorly Park, for which there was also an application for funding.

" And we are about to put in a viewing point above Glencar Waterfall," he said.

As to the perennial complaint about high prices, Mr. McLoone said tourism prices in Sligo had come down 30% in 18 months.

And, in relation to the current concerns over the future of some hotels throughout the country, Mr. McLoone insisted there was no oversupply of beds in Sligo or in this region.

On the marketing side, he said the new tourist board chairperson, Bernie Butler, was putting a Destination Sligo forum group in place that would influence the regional tourist body's decisions.

"So when someone makes a statement that something's not happening in Sligo, it's simply not fact. The fact is that there is huge amount of work going on by all sectors in Sligo, both by public and private bodies, to grow tourism in Sligo," Mr. McLoone insisted

- HARRY KEANEY