Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a winter marketing campaign to promote Ireland and airports such as Ireland West Airport Knock.

Deputy Naughten pointed out that “such a campaign will be of benefit to local tourism operators during a very quiet time of the year”.

As part of the marketing campaign, which is supported by revenues from the air travel tax, with matching funding from the airlines, Ryanair will highlight attractive fares to Knock from Great Britain and mainland Europe in local and national papers as well as radio ads.

The Aer Lingus promotional campaign for routes to Knock will run in Great Britain again including both print and radio ads.

A further campaign in Britain will include promotions with FlyBE, highlighting routes to Ireland West Airport Knock.

All of the promotions will include the use of the airlines’ own websites as well as email marketing to the airlines’ databases of travellers.

“This campaign is a positive development of local tourism and clearly shows that Government can work with all of the airlines servicing this country to support our local economy,” concluded Denis Naughten.