At the outset I should like to thank Senators who contributed in such a sensible and realistic manner. I recognise the very serious responsibility I have to the tourist industry in my capacity as Minister. The tourist industry is our third greatest industry after industrial exports and agriculture. As such, it merits the type of very sincere and genuine consideration it got here this evening. Nothing was brushed under the carpet. The problems confronting that industry were stated. Indeed, I am deeply conscious of those problems. Whether those problems are great or small, I in my capacity as Minister, and Bord Fáilte in their capacity as the statutory body catering for the promotion of tourism, cannot find the solutions on our own. This will be achieved only through the total, collective involvement of every person involved in the tourist industry. That covers a very wide stratum of the total population. This is the type of involvement and contribution for which I am looking.
Senator Lynch made a number of very useful points. He made one point which is very relevant. We do not portray the richness of our national heritage in promoting our tourism assets. Since my appointment as Minister, I have said at every possible opportunity, and in consultation with Bord Fáilte, that to an extent we have neglected to display the wonderful riches we have in our music, our songs, our dances, our games and our traditional crafts. In my discussions with very many tourists from many countries I find that while they may have complaints, what will live in their memory and what they will return to enjoy are our songs, our dances and our ancient crafts. These are symbols of our identity, of our nationality, that we should not push to one side.
Undoubtedly, on St. Patrick's Day they are to be enjoyed in various towns and cities. I have been advocating to tourist interests and very co-operative bodies such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Irish dancing groups and local organisations that they be on display for our tourists in June, July and August when we have so many thousands of them.
This is an enabling Bill to facilitate increased borrowing. The present grants are confined mainly to hotels to ensure that the level of our existing stock is kept to the highest level in the matter of private bathrooms and so on. The other new feature — it is a valuable one — is the development of self-catering establishments. That will have a tremendous impact in the future. It is a new venture on the Continent because people want to have freedom to cater for themselves and we must match that to the maximum. It has another valuable component in that those centres would be in rural areas and as a result would bring a lot of wealth to local economies. Grants relate to accommodation and the development of caravaning and camping sites and the latter are a major feature in the tourist industry. That is all for the better because it means the industry is spreading to isolated areas. That will encourage local interests to establish self-catering houses, a valuable contribution for the future expansion of the industry.
I am very conscious of sign-posting, a matter which was referred to by Senator Lynch. I should like to tell the Senator that I have already raised the matter with Bord Fáilte and the Department of the Environment. It is important that we have an adequate sign-posting system at the main entries to the country, such as Dublin, Rosslare, Shannon and Cork. There is a great need for a more intellition gent approach to the needs of tourists in this area. I hope my representations will be successful. Senator Lynch also referred to the depressed state of the industry. Like most other people I am conscious that the industry must contend with a variety of problems and has had to deal with them over a number of years. However, I am heartened by the fact that since 1978 there has been a revitalisation in the growth of the industry. Last year earnings from foreign tourists exceeded £500 million while the home market amounted to £260 million. That represented real growth of 4 per cent.
I do not wish to make any comment on the IHF remarks this morning but there was an increase in business in May, and June ran parallel with the same period in 1982. What the hotels do is their business but I should like to state that it is too early in the year to make any final assessment of what the full impact on the industry will be. In respect of hotels, particularly their restaurants and bars, there has been a substantial drop off in trade but my Department, or Bord Fáilte, do not have any indication if the numbers of foreign tourists are fewer than last year.
Senator Lynch also asked about giving financial aid to festivals and so on. That is a problem of tremendous financial magnitude because every village and small town runs a festival in the summer. That is to be commended but Bord Fáilte do not have any means to support all such events on a financial basis. The real purpose of Bord Fáilte, an organisation with limited resources in relation to the magnitude of the industry they are responsible for — £21 million — is to sell Ireland at home and abroad. Our primary objective must be to get more foreign tourists here and to encourage more natives to spend their holidays in Ireland. With the approval of the Department, Bord Fáilte have embarked on a special three-year programme in Britain and £1 million extra has been allocated for that purpose. We all realise that the British tourist has been the backbone of our tourist industry down the years. Having regard to the problems we have, now is the time to make a determined effort to ensure we secure the return of those tourists. I can assure the House that the programme is proving successful.
Senator Lynch was concerned about fishing. I should like to tell the Senator that in Manchester recently, a city that has a colossal catchment area for the sale of holidays, I found tremendous interest in fishing holiday package deals in Ireland. On Thursday, 28 July I will be launching a giant North-South publicity campaign in Monaghan town. I have arranged to meet a number of local fishing interests on that day to see how we can all work together to sell fishing holidays there. Fishing holidays here have proved to be very relaxing and worthwhile.
I was asked about grants for new hotel development. At present I am awaiting a full assessment of the potential of the tourist industry in the next four or five years and a decision on such grants will not be made until we see how that development fits in with the proposals of the industry and how we relate competitively to the rest of Europe. In trying to sell Ireland today we must be conscious of the fact that the budget of all tourists is a vital factor. Senator Kirwan expressed the view that we need major hotels here and I accept that but when one is involved in world wide competition in an industry which by the end of the century will be Europe's major industry we must ensure that we have the structure, accommodation, hospitality and prices to meet the requirements of all visitors. If we do not do that people will choose elsewhere for their holidays.
Bord Fáilte are doing a major sales campaign in regard to town and country homes and guesthouses. This is because there are people who will demand that kind of price, accommodation and hospitality. As I said to the IHF, this is a helping rather than a hindering policy for hotels because it will attract people to this country who would not visit it if that type of accommodation was not available. While they are here they will be contributing to the economy and utilising hotels, restaurants and bars. We have to provide a good standard of accommodation. This will not only attract more tourists but it will ensure that those who have made substantial investments in this area will get a good return. At the same time we will also be helping the hotels solve their present problems.
The decision by the French Government seriously to restrict finance was a great shock. We expressed our concern to the EEC about these restrictions and we are assured that they will be removed for the 1984 tourist season. Having regard to the size of the French tourist market, that is good news.
Senator Howard mentioned section 7. I can assure him he need have no worries because a person advertising a registered property must live up to the standard required. There is no problem there. Senator Kirwin asked about the OIE hotels. A decision about these hotels does not rest with my Department but with the Department of Transport. Before a final decision is reached, I hope that in my capacity as Minister I will be asked to make a submission. I believe we should retain hotels which have such high standards and which cater for conferences, congresses and so on.
A Senator mentioned the serious problem of caravan and camping sites. I have been pressing the Minister for the Environment to encourage local authorities to make full use of the powers under which this situation could be put right. This is an absolute scandal. We must put our best wares in our windows to attract tourists. Unless we do that we will all be losers because the international tourist market is very competitive.
We accept that intensive tourist development requires a very efficient transport system, both road and rail. Prices are an ever recurring problem. Bord Fáilte, the hotels and restaurants are to be congratulated for the development of the special menu — three or four course lunches at a fixed price. This will be welcomed by tourists.
We are very disappointed at the tax on alcoholic drinks because drink is a major factor in relaxation for tourists. We will do our best to ease the tax and VAT situations and keep them under constant review. As an exporting industry, this industry should get the same recognition other exporting industries get, but unfortunately this has not happened so far.
In times of recession prices are a vital consideration and no hotelier or restaurateur should be found guilty of charging prices above the maximum. Unfortunately there are some sectors in the drink trade — hotels — who are exempt but I am not happy that the prices they charge are justified and something may have to be done about this. When one sees 35p, 41p or 43p added to the maximum price of a pint of beer, one wonders if that type of exercise will attract tourists.
As I said at the outset, we have a wonderful tourist industry which can make a great contribution to the wealth of the community, but it will only succeed if we all have a total commitment to maintain our open spaces, unpolluted beaches and the other immense facilities we have to offer.
I thank Senators who contributed to this debate and look forward to the Committee Stage.
