The Connoisseur Group, owners of Emerald Star, the Erne and Shannon-based cruising company, yesterday announced it was adding 20 new boats to its fleet with an investment of £2 million.
With a total fleet size of almost 240 boats, the company will spend £700,000 promoting Ireland as a cruising holiday destination. The investment will make the group the largest cruise hire company in Europe.
The group managing director, Mr Tim James, said Ireland represented the best possibilities for the group with the largest cruising area - almost 540 km between Belleek in Co Fermanagh and Killaloe, Co Clare or Waterford via the Barrow river system.
Business in the cruising market is expected to grow substantially over the next five years with the setting-up of the All-Ireland Waterways Authority, which will assume control of all waterways from April 2000.