asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he considers that the seasonal tourist bookings are coming up to expectation.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Bookings.
4.
I understand from Bord Fáilte that the season started very well, but improvement was not sustained in early July, partly because the US 21-day air excursion fare did not come into effect until July 12. Greater number of American visitors have, however, been coming in the early summer. The recent bus strike is thought to have some adverse effect on the British market. On balance, however, the overall tourist bookings seem so far to be up to expectations. There has been a spectacular increase —of about one-third—in the car carryings inward in the first half of the year.
Is the Minister satisfied that the numbers are up to last year's standard?
That is quite impossible to forecast. I have no reason to suppose at the moment that the Bord Fáilte forecast cannot be reasonably sustained but there are certain factors, like the situation in Great Britain, which have arisen since that forecast was made.