The CEO of Tourism Ireland, Alice Mansergh and a host of local and national tourism leaders spoke at the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF) Tourism Day 2026.

 

NETWORKS & COLLECTIVE VOICES

Held at The Brehon Hotel & Spa, the one day event brought together representatives from across Kerry’s tourism and wider business community under the KTIF umbrella - a membership organisation that represents tourism operators throughout the county, providing a unified and influential voice for the sector at local, regional and national level.

Accommodation providers, visitor attractions, activity operators, hospitality businesses, publicans and transport services attended the event, demonstrating the breadth of the county’s tourism offering and the strong engagement across all sectors.

KTIF Tourism Day 2026 Girmante Plotnikova Collage

LEADERSHIP & VISION

The programme included updates from KTIF Chair, Pat O'Leary, KTIF Marketing Sub-Committee lead Patrick O'Donoghue and KTIF Sustainability Sub-Committee lead Grainne Kelliher. Taking the tourism industry in attendance from the local to the global, the esteemed speakers covered topics from policy, destination development, innovation to economics:

  • Alice Mansergh, ​CEO of Tourism Ireland, outlined overseas market performance, emerging travel trends and Ireland’s competitive positioning globally, with a particular focus on how Kerry can capitalise on opportunities in key international markets.
  • Fearghal Reidy, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, speaking on infrastructure delivery, planning and sustainable regional growth.
  • Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, addressing the continued development and strategic direction of Ireland’s Atlantic coastal brand.
  • Fergal Brosnan, CEO of RDI Hub, highlighting the growing importance of AI, innovation and digital transformation for tourism businesses.
  • Mike O’Sullivan, Academic and global financial markets expert, providing insight into international economic conditions and their potential impact on tourism demand.
  • Billy Keane, Writer and publican, speaking specifically on the vital role of publicans within Kerry’s tourism ecosystem — from preserving cultural heritage and local storytelling to sustaining rural communities and enhancing the visitor experience.

CLOSE KNIT, SPACE TO GROW

KTIF Chairperson Pat O’Leary said the diversity of speakers reflects the interconnected nature of the industry:

“Tourism in Kerry is not one single sector — it is a network of businesses and communities working together. From international marketing and economic forecasting to innovation and the unique role of our publicans, today’s discussions highlight how every element contributes to the strength of our tourism product. With representation from all regions, chambers and businesses of every scale in the county, KTIF ensures that the voice is unified and influential.”

Since its establishment in 2019, KTIF has acted as a central coordinating body for tourism interests across Kerry, driving multi-agency collaboration in marketing, sustainability and development. Today’s Tourism Day further reinforces its leadership role in shaping a resilient and future-focused tourism industry for the county.

 

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