BY COLM BRADLEY

It seems that the inclement weather of this summer has not succeeded in keeping visitors away from Fermanagh.

Charlotte Wilson, the manager of the Fermanagh Tourist Centre in Enniskillen, has said that she has actually seen an increase in visitors to the county and that so far August has been a bumper month for the county.

"The last ten days or so things have been very busy and it certainly seems that the indifferent weather is not keeping people away," Charlotte explained.

"We also find that when the weather is not sunny, people will look for other ways to pass their time and that is often when they come to us to find out what they can do that will keep them out of the rain."

In Charlottes opinion, the weather may have also simply postponed holidays for some people;

"Well we have been steady all summer and have seen a rise in August. Perhaps people have been putting off their holiday for a few months because of the weather but, as the summer goes on people have to take their holidays at some stage, so that would account for the surge this month."

At times this month, it has been difficult too for the Tourist Centre to find accommodation for some visitors, such has been the demand. Indeed Charlotte has been thankful of a new e-mail system which each day identifies vacant accommodation and late cancellations.

"It has been great to have this system in place. It means we can make use of every spare space and at times we have definitely needed it."

Charlotte has also seen an increased diversity in nationalities that are coming through her door.

"French and German visitors used to be the most common by a long way but, now we are beginning to see that there are many different nationalities coming to Fermanagh. There has been a huge increase in Italian and Spanish visitors and we find that many people from other countries who have moved to Fermanagh come in to us to find out about what's on and things to do."

Tourism seems to be going from strength to strength in Fermanagh and certainly there seems to be more people from Ireland prepared to stay and holiday at home.

Fermanagh may be a little wet at the moment, but there is still plenty of activities to keep people occupied. And, with the miserable weather and the lough at our doorstep, what better way to enjoy Fermanagh than with some watersports, after all you are going to get wet anyway!