Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 4

Written Answers. - Far-East Tourist Market.

Noel Davern

Question:

54 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department and Bord Fáilte to develop tourist traffic with the Far East, in particular with Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. [10786/95]

David Andrews

Question:

188 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department and Bord Fáilte to develop tourist traffic with the Far East, in particular Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. [11023/95]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 188 together.

The Far East is one of the world's fastest growing markets and is expected to yield substantial tourism and travel business in the years ahead. Japan currently offers the best potential for Ireland and Bord Fáilte, in co-operation with Aer Lingus, is actively working the market through one of Japan's leading tour wholesalers. An additional £100,000 was made available to Bord Fáilte through my Department's tourism promotion and development fund for extra promotion of Ireland in this market in 1994. As a result some 22,000 Japanese visited Ireland last year — an increase of 22 per cent on 1993 and over 100 per cent on 1991 when we had some 10,000 Japanese visitors. I have again allocated an additional £100,000 to this market in 1995 with a target of an extra 5,000 Japanese visitors.

Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia are at present much less developed markets than Japan. It is estimated, for example, that Britain attracts only some 25,000 Korean visitors per annum. Bord Fáilte does not maintain a promotional presence in these countries because the existing level of business would not justify the high costs involved. Nevertheless, in view of their potential for future business, close contact is being maintained with tour operators and publicity and media contacts there.

Improving access to Ireland will continue to be a key issue in developing the potential of the Far East markets. Common-rating agreements, where for example visitors can fly from Singapore to Dublin for the same fare as Singapore-London, are a valuable marketing tool in long-haul markets and Aer Lingus currently has agreements in place with Japan, Australia and New Zealand.