Tourism is staging a recovery following a difficult 2001, according to feedback from tourism promotion organisations, Bord Fáilte said yesterday.

"Prospects from the UK and parts of Europe are positive, with indications that visitors are responding to competitive offers that have been introduced by Irish operators, but this has to be counter-balanced by the fact that there will be a drop in US visitor numbers," said Bord Fáilte chief executive Mr Niall Reddy.

Around 340 international tour operators are expected to attend Bord Fáilte's tourism trade workshop which will be held in the RDS on Monday and Tuesday.

Bord Fáilte has also allocated €2 million to a marketing programme for the domestic Irish market and expects 5 per cent growth on the 3.6 million domestic holiday trips and revenues of €1 billion generated last year.

Mr Reddy added that there had been a partial recovery in special interest holidays to Ireland such as golf, cruising, walking and heritage trips, which had been particularly impacted by restrictions imposed following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.