Stadiums controlled by the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) recorded a 5.5 per cent increase in pretax profits last year to €1.87 million.

The profits last year follows the IGB’s stadiums recording a profit of €1.79 million in 2010.

According to a spokesman for the IGB: “One thing that helped boost the numbers for 2011 was the marketing drive to target tourists to visit the stadia which amounted to more than 40,000 foreign tourists going to the dogs.”

He added: “It is hoped to further increase that number and an earlier deal this year with a German tour operator will see 10,000 tourists visiting Tralee Greyhound Stadium this year for the first time.”

A breakdown of the figures shows that Cork greyhound stadium recorded a 21 per cent increase in profits last year to €362,000 following a profit of €297,000 in 2010.

The new Limerick greyhound stadium also recorded a profit of €169,000 in 2011.

Figures for 2011 are not yet available for Shelbourne Park. However, the 2010 figures show that the stadium recorded an overall profit of €956,000 after taking tote contribution into account on top of the €168,000 stadium operating profit.

The IGB group accounts for 2011 have yet to be published.