In a week when weather and prices dominated the tourism debate in the south, the farmhouse holiday sector has been quick to point out that if good value for money is on offer, people will avail of it.
Ms Eileen McDonogh of the Irish Farmhouse Holidays Association said that although there had been complaints in the newspapers and on the airwaves about overcharging for hotel meals in particular and the cost of home holidays in general, it was still possible to have bed, breakfast and dinner in an Irish farmhouse for less than €50.
"That is exceptional value. One of our members rang from Tipperary to say that she has been full every night for weeks now. That's because people recognise good value and when they find it, they will come back again.
"There have been many complaints about the industry overcharging, but we should also let people know there is value to be had at reasonable prices," she added.
Throughout the Cork region, there has been a notable absence of US visitors, and businesses are counting the cost as the second dismal season in a row begins to unfold.
As if that were not bad enough, the German market, which has been developing in recent years as one of the mainstays of the tourism sector in west Cork, has all but collapsed.
Operators say there are few if any Germans around this year and the reason is Germans are not travelling because of the recession at home.
There are signs that, from a slow start, numbers of French tourists are beginning to pick up, while figures for Dutch holidaymakers, who like cycling and camping in west Cork, look as if they will be down this year.
According to Cork Kerry Tourism, an early season promotional drive with Cresta, one of the major British operators offering Ireland as a destination, has begun to pay dividends.
The tourism company placed travel literature in some 800 high street travel agents in the UK early in June and followed it up by bringing 40 key travel agents on a familiarisation tour of the south.
The result has been a steady stream of bookings, all helped, of course, by highly advantageous exchange rates for British travellers.
Still, the signs everywhere are that, even based on the figures for last year's poor season, industry participants this year will be lucky to hold their own.