Music is Athlone's key tourism asset according to new ad campaign

Live music has been highlighted as Athlone"s key selling point in a new advertising campaign aimed at attracting overseas visitors to Ireland. It"s estimated that, over the next three years, Tourism Ireland"s "Go Where Ireland Takes You" campaign will reach over 200 million potential visitors from across the globe. The campaign"s print advertisements use computer-generated imagery based on real photography in order to create maps listing the diverse attractions of each of Ireland"s regions. A map which showcases the midlands encourages tourists to come and 'listen to music in Athlone.' Another advertisement promotes cruising on the River Shannon. Clonmacnois and Mullingar"s Belvedere House are nearby attractions which are also featured. Tourism Ireland is unveiling the advertisements in an effort to reverse the downward trend in the number of visitors coming to this country. According to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the number of visitors to Ireland declined by 9 per cent during the first quarter of this year.