Kilkenny city tourist office moving to High Street

Fáilte Ireland has announced plans to relocate its Tourist Information Centre to the medieval mile in the centre of the city.
This is good news on two fronts. Firstly, it will give Fáilte Ireland a stand on the city’s main thoroughfares.
Just as importantly it will return the Shee Alms House on Rose Inn Street to the city having been the Fáilte Ireland office for over 40 years.
The relocation of the official tourist office to the heart of the city will provide the National Tourist Development Authority with greater visibility, a higher tourist footfall and the ability to better serve visitors to the city and region.
It is planned that the new Centre, to be located on No. 79 High Street, should be open to greet its first tourists in the summer of 2019.
Gary Breen, Head of Visitor Engagement at Fáilte Ireland said the relocation of the Tourist Information Centre was a vote of confidence in the local tourism industry.
“The importance of tourism to the economy of the region and the city cannot be underestimated,” he said.
When completed, it will allow visitors to interact with local tourism experts and to discover even more of what Kilkenny has to offer.
In 2017, Kilkenny, city and county, welcomed 315,000 overseas visitors spending an estimated €55 million and 298,000 domestic visitors spending an estimated €39 million.
Despite all the ways new technology has changed the travel industry, recent Fáilte Ireland research has found that visitors still turn to people for advice when on holidays with 50% of all international visitors visiting a Tourist Information Centre when in Ireland.
Face to face engagement is at the very heart of our service to visitors.
“Our intention is that the new Tourist Information Centre will be designed to enable such interactions with a very contemporary layout,” Mr Breen said.
“There will be a number of stations where visitors and staff can engage in one to one consultations and be provided with a bespoke personalised itinerary that fits their needs, wants and budget, saving time, effort and doubt.
“The new Centre, when completed will allow Fáilte Ireland to better service and welcome many more visitors to Ireland’s Ancient East and Kilkenny.”
The Shee Alms House on Rose Inn Street will return to Kilkenny City Council in the summer, when all Fáilte Ireland staff will relocate to the High Street office.