asked the Minister for Transport and power whether official arrangements exist abroad whereby intending visitors to Ireland may make inquiries about and book advance hotel accommodation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Booking of Hotel Accommodation.
3.
The Bord Fáilte offices abroad provide a full tourist information service for intending visitors to Ireland, including information about Irish hotels. The Official Guide to hotels, guesthouses, holiday camps and hostels is given on request at these offices. A hotel reservation service is provided for North American and Continental travel agents at the Bord Fáilte offices. Aer Lingus also operate a full hotel reservation service in their North American and Continental offices.
The general public may make reservations abroad through travel agents and for some Irish hotels, through hotel booking organisations.
Is the Minister aware that the Irish Tourist Board Office in Bond Street, London, does not arrange hotel accommodation for prospective tourists to this country and could he examine the possibilities of providing facilities for doing so?
It is the custom of Bord Fáilte to recommend persons to go to accredited travel agencies or to hotel-booking organisations in Great Britain and, if they fail to get reservations there, they recommend them to inquire through the Regional Tourist Board Information Offices.