The Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative, supported by Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership, offered the Association an award of £29,000 to adopt a new marketing strategy that will help bring more tourists to the lakes.

    “There has been a steady decline in the number of visitors to Lough Erne in the past four to five years,” said Mr. Michael McCaldin of the Erne Charter Boat Association. “This year business wasn’t too bad. The weather really saved our bacon. There was a pretty patchy start to the season but the weather saved us in the end,” he said.

    Mr. McCaldin cites a variety of reasons for the decrease in visitor numbers the lakes and hiring cruise boats.

    “The Northern Ireland Tourism Board produces an annual cruiser survey recording the number of visitors to the lakes. The report also contains a section looking at the possible influences or reasons behind the changes in visitor figures,” he explained.

    The Irish cruiser business has traditionally depended heavily on the German market, he said.

    “The German economy is in crisis, so there have been fewer German tourists coming in general. We now also have to compete with the Shannon waterways and with VAT at 12.5 per cent in the Republic, compared to 17.5 per cent up here, it’s hard to attract the business,” he said.

    Foreign currency exchange has always been an issue when it comes to international business. With the rest of Europe operating within the Euro monetary system Northern Ireland cruiser hire companies have been losing out.

    “The sterling has been overpriced, though that’s balancing out again slightly now. Fermanagh is still a very expensive destination to get to however. Things like the fact that our local airport has closed, that Sabena, the airline, went bust and Knock airport has fewer charter flights coming into the West, plus the fact that our road transport system is poor, means travelling to the Fermanagh lakelands is very expensive,” he said.

    Mr. McCaldin said the funding being offered will only be granted if terms and conditions are met and the cash is seen being put to good use.

    “We haven’t just been handed a huge chunk of money for nothing. We had to do a lot of work for it and it will have to be spent properly,” he said.

    The Boat Association grant has been designated toward four main areas of cruiser hire marketing and promotion: attending boat shows; market research; the production of an interactive CD and the production of a brochure.

    “Hopefully the grant will help us address the decline in visitors hiring boats and the award has come just in the nick of time,” said Mr. McCaldin. Other projects offered grant assistance by the Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative and Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership were: Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism; The National Trust; Killesher Community Development Association; Fermanagh District Council; Derrygonnelly Field Studies Centre and Belle Isle Estate, where the first cookery school of its kind is being opened in Northern Ireland.