asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the proposals which have been made to date by the Tourism Task Force; of these, the proposals which have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourism Task Force.
9.
As I mentioned previously in the House, the Tourism Task Force was established by the Government specifically to advise on how the additional £4 million provided in the 1988 budget should be allocated so as to obtain an increase in tourism numbers and revenue in 1988 in line with the targets set out in the Programme for National Recovery.
On 3 March 1988, the Government approved a series of recommendations from the task force for a special £4 million programme of measures for 1988 as follows:
A National "Write and Invite" campaign.
A new campaign directed at the special interest holiday segments of our main markets making extensive use of specialist tour operators and journalists in special interest magazines and publications. Bord Fáilte have targeted angling, golf, equestrian, cycling, walking, religious, cultural-heritage-language, incentive-conference, cruising and senior citizens.
New campaigns in North America and Australia-Japan concentrating on back-track traffic from Europe and Britain.
Special campaigns in Continental Europe and Britain.
A special Entrepreneurial Tourism Fund to assist innovative tourism projects designed to increase visitor traffic in 1988;
A Conference Ambassador Scheme aimed at attracting increased international conference business.
This programme of measures is already being implemented by Bord Fáilte and I am confident that it will lead to a substantial increase in overseas visitors in 1988 and afterwards.
The Minister says he has confidence, but could he tell us whether there are any indications, now that we are almost mid-way through the year, that there is an increase as a result of any of these proposals which were approved in March?
It is difficult to give the Deputy a structured answer off the top of my head but I do know that for the first quarter of the year the number of visitors from North America was up by 25 per cent. As well as that, we know that in response to the "write and invite" campaign 70,000 plus replies have been received — not actual visitors — but it is an indication that 70,000 were interested enough to reply. I am giving those as indicators.
Has the Minister had any representations from the Tourism Task Force on how his Department might deal with the rod licence dispute and its repercussions?
Please, Deputy. The Deputy must desist from referring to a matter which is deemed to be sub judice.
I am merely asking the Minister in respect of the Tourism Task Force whether they have submitted any suggestions to his Department on how to overcome recent adverse publicity in the angling area. Perhaps, phrased that way, it might help.
The Deputy may not circumvent the ruling of the Chair; he knows that.
I am not seeking to do that but——
I would not tolerate it, anyway.
In relation to the "Write and Invite" campaign and the 70,000 responses the Minister says have been received to date, can he or Bord Fáilte give any indication as to how many of those are likely to be translated into visits to this country on the part of people from the United Kingdom? Is there any way of estimating the percentage of those 70,000 who will visit this country as tourists?
As this is a pioneering venture — there are no historical criteria from which to judge — it would be foolhardy of me to venture a reply or to give a percentage estimate. Suffice it to say that 70,000-plus to date have been sufficiently interested to reply and to return the relevant material to Bord Fáilte. We expect we will have a fair percentage of visitors arising therefrom.
Will the Minister say — in relation to the proposals of the Tourism Task Force — whether it is entirely incumbent on Bord Fáilte to have them implemented or whether any proportion of the £4 million is then forwarded on to some of the private interests represented on the task force with a view to them or their associates implementing those proposals?
Bord Fáilte have total responsibility for the implementation of the proposals. Bord Fáilte deserve much praise for all of their efforts. They have produced a series of folders in special interest areas of a very high standard, covering equestrian, Golden Holidays, game angling, coarse angling, cycling, walking, cruising and golf, which are very impressive and well prepared and presented.
——and U-turning.
On the Táin walk there are considerable U-turns.