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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - Tourism Revenues.

Enda Kenny

Question:

300 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will give details of his recent reassurance trip to the United States; the level of support thereby generated and recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17824/01]

Enda Kenny

Question:

301 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has revised his figures of estimated tourism losses of £500 million in 2001 in view of the recent up-turn in the industry; his estimation of losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17825/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.

A major tourism marketing reassurance campaign, with a total budget of £10 million, has been designed by Bord Fáilte in consultation with the industry and is under way in key markets. The reassurance marketing campaign consists of special media advertising, trade reassurance measures and special promotional visits, including my own recent visit to the United States. In the course of that visit, I undertook over 30 interviews with television and radio as well as 18 print media interviews. I also attended trade and media events in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York and had three industry meetings. My trip to the United States was heavily supported by the tourist trade both at home and in the U.S. and the industry saw it as a significant contribution in counteracting the negative publicity and confusion about foot and mouth which was widespread there.

Bord Fáilte's April estimate of projected losses of out-of-state tourism earnings is of the order of £500 million for 2001. These estimates did not take into account the impact of the subsequent reassurance campaign. Bord Fáilte will be re-evaluating these projections as the 2001 season progresses. These initial projections are at the high end of losses and this is borne out by the fact that since the launch of the reassurance campaign there have been some signs of recovery in the market place.

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