If anyone doubts that the last of hidden Ireland is to be found in the midlands, they should look no further than a major survey on tourism launched in Laois this week.
A visitor survey carried out by the Tourism Research Centre, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, found that 72 per cent of those surveyed had not visited the county before.
It found that 29 per cent of those surveyed stayed in Laois for fewer than 24 hours while 26 per cent stayed one to three days, according to the report prepared for Laois LEADER rural development company.
The survey, launched in Portlaoise by Cllr Kieran Phelan, chairman of Midland East Regional Tourism Association, found that 24 per cent of the visitors came from Britain, 20 per cent from Ireland, 19 per cent from the US and 13 per cent from France.
Almost a quarter of the Irish visitors came from Dublin, 21 per cent came from the west, 14 per cent from Cork/Kerry and 13 per cent from the adjoining counties.
The main difficulties experienced by the visitors, according to the survey, were signposting, promotion and lack of facilities for evening meals.
The report recommended an attitudinal change in the county to tourism through educating people to the fact that tourism is everybody's business.
It recommended that the county produce a comprehensive marketing plan and develop the core products, angling, walking, equestrian sports, heritage and environmental projects.
The report said that supporting activity-based developments and combining accommodation with activities would help hold people in the area and keep expenditure there.
"The quality of towns and villages is central to the capacity of a county to benefit from tourism. Towns and villages are where most money is spent," the report added.
It recommended the refurbishment of accommodation such as gate lodges, estate houses, district farmhouses and hostel type structures, no longer used by residents.
The report said an effective central reservation system needed to be developed with continued provision for tourism information.
One if its main recommendations was that Laois should promote its own county image through "The Heart of Ireland" concept.
It acknowledged that those who came to Laois enjoyed the "friendly, welcoming people, the unspoiled countryside and the history/heritage sites" which dot the county.
