asked the Minister for Transport and Power what is Bord Fáilte's present policy regarding promotion tours abroad by the regional tourism companies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Industry.
5.
Mr. O'Donnell
Bord Fáilte are anxious to secure the greatest possible participation by tourist interests in each region in overseas promotional activities and they expect the regional tourism companies to encourage such participation by representatives of the tourist trade in their area. The involvement of the tourist trade in overseas promotion represents a valuable addition to the general promotional activities pursued by Bord Fáilte and the board consider that the encouragement of such involvement is the most effective role for the regional companies to pursue in this sphere.
Mr. O'Donnell
Is the Minister aware that there is a very urgent need for a rationalisation of the whole approach to on-the-spot selling by the various regional groups? During the past couple of years there has been a tendency for one group to go to Britain one week and for another to go the next week with the result that there has been a certain amount of wasted effort and also a lack of co-operation. Would the Minister look into this question of the whole approach to marketing?
This matter has been looked into in the past. This particular aspect was very much borne in mind during the course of the special promotion campaign which is in the course of being carried out for the coming season. It was a total scheme involving all the regions and it involved rationalisation in relation to the promotional effort.
6.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the estimated percentage of total tourist revenue for 1970 which was spent in each of the eight regions.
Bord Fáilte have provisionally estimated tourist revenue in 1970 at £101.2 million including carrier receipts of £21 million. The board have prepared an estimated percentage breakdown on a regional basis of their figure, excluding carrier receipts, and, with your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the breakdown:
|
Region |
Estimated Percentage |
|
Dublin |
22.9 |
|
East |
10.1 |
|
South East |
10.5 |
|
South |
22.6 |
|
Mid-West |
8.1 |
|
West |
15.1 |
|
North-West |
4.9 |
|
Midland |
5.8 |
7.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is satisfied with the degree of co-operation which exists between Aer Lingus, Bord Fáilte, CIE and SFADCO and the regional tourism companies in the field of tourism promotion and marketing; and whether he proposes to take any steps to secure greater co-ordination of effort by these bodies.
All the bodies mentioned by the Deputy work in close co-operation in areas of common interest. Co-operation includes the co-ordination of a wide range of activities including joint advertising, joint promotional campaigns, joint film production, joint handling of press, radio and television units visits, co-operation in travel workshops and in the setting up of a suitable inclusive holiday offers. In addition co-ordination committees on promotional and marketing activities, consisting of representatives of Bord Fáilte, Aer Lingus, CIE and SFADCO, are well established in North America, France and Germany and meet regularly.
It is my constant concern to promote the optimum degree of co-operation between these bodies.
Mr. O'Donnell
Despite the rosy picture which the Minister has painted regarding co-operation between the different companies mentioned, I should like to ask him if he is aware there is a considerable amount of rivalry and petty jealousy between some of these companies? Is he aware, for example, that there is a considerable conflict of opinion between Aer Lingus and Bord Fáilte on the one hand and between CIE and SFADCO on the other hand in relation to other aspects of tourism promotion? Further, would the Minister agree to bring these bodies together with a view to enabling them to hammer out their differences?
I spend most of my time rationalising the particular situation to which the Deputy refers but I would like to put the whole matter in perspective. From the point of view of the community, of the country and of the personnel concerned, it is very valuable that there be a degree of competition between State companies; otherwise, we would have no barometer as to their achievements or otherwise. My particular job is to ensure that, while having this degree of competitiveness, there is no overlapping and that we rationalise the competitiveness.
As the Deputy has stated, this problem arises in regard to Bord Fáilte and our national airline and it arises also in regard to SFADCO and CIE. We have reached an agreement on areas of development between them as regards the North-Atlantic carrier business in which both SFADCO and CIE are concerned. These matters arise week in and week out. It is important that we have the various companies on their mettle, so to speak, from a competitive point of view and, at the same time, that overlapping is prevented and that there is rationalisation which does not prevent them from being on their mettle.
Mr. O'Donnell
While recognising that healthy competition is a good thing, I would again ask the Minister to look carefully into this because I have evidence, and when the opportunity presents itself here in the House, I will spell it out. Would the Minister undertake to have periodic meetings with these different State companies who are engaged in tourism with a view to seeing to it that they do their job?
Not only do I have periodic meetings with them but I have monthly meetings with every one of them.
8.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the estimated hotel bedroom occupancy rate in 1970 (a) for the whole country and (b) for each of the eight regions.
The Central Statistics Office do not compile hotel bedroom occupancy rates.
I am informed by Bord Fáilte that they are at present collecting data with a view to the estimation of hotel occupancy rates for 1970. The collection and processing of the data will take some time and the board are not in a position to say when a result will be available.
9.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether there has been any increase in the Bord Fáilte promotional budget for Europe for 1971; and, if not, why.
The allocation of the grant-in-aid funds for administration, operational and general expenses of Bord Fáilte is a matter for the board.
I am informed by the board that they plan to spend almost £270,000 on promotional work in Europe in 1970-71 as compared with £251,539 in 1969-70. The allocation for 1971-72 cannot be decided by the board until the Estimates for Public Services for that year are published.
Mr. O'Donnell
Would the Minister not agree that, in view of the adverse factors that have been met with in the British and North American market in recent times, there is a cast iron case for increasing the promotional budget towards the European market where all the evidence indicates that there is a tremendous potential for Irish tourism? Would the Minister not agree that there should be a greater concentration of effort on Continental Europe?
I agree with the Deputy in the broad context of expanding the promotional expenditure by Bord Fáilte, but we have to mark our options in accordance with the revenue we have available for expenditure.