asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether a special tourism promotional campaign is being launched in North America; if so, whether tourist interests from Ireland will participate; and, if so, if he will give details of the campaign.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourism.
8.
Mr. O'Donnell
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether Bord Fáilte are organisating tourist workshops during 1971; if so, when and where; and whether any innovations are being introduced this year in relation to the organisation of or participation in these workshops.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
As the Deputy is aware, a special promotional campaign is being under-taken by Bord Fáilte in our main tourist markets, including North America, with a view to attracting additional tourist traffic in 1971 and subsequent years. The campaign includes increased consumer advertising backed up by public relations and sales activity with appropriate supporting print and distribution.
As part of the campaign, tourist workshops are being held at five centres in North America in the course of the present month. Thirty organisations representing hotel groups, carhire organisations and handling agents are participating in these workshops, which are also being supported by the major carriers. This is the first occasion on which workshops have been organised in North America and they will provide the participating organisations with the opportunity of meeting leading United States and Canadian travel agents and other traffic generators.
The promotion of tourism through workshops has become an integral part of Bord Fáilte's marketing programme. Workshops will also be held in Britain and Germany during June.
The 1971 workshops will be organised on broadly the same basis as in previous years. As in 1970, the travel and tourism interests participating will contribute towards the costs of these promotions.
Mr. O'Donnell
In relation to Question No. 9, while I agree with the desirability of accelerating the campaign in North America, could the Minister give any reason as to why this campaign was not carried out earlier? It is a bit late now to be going on a marketing campaign for the 1971 season. Why was it not done last October, November or December?
The Deputy is under a misapprehension. The money was made available last October. It was spent on a planned basis. This is the culmination of promotional work in North America, Britain and Europe since last October. This is the precise on-the-ground selling. This is the appropriate time for it.
Mr. O'Donnell
Again in relation to Question No. 9, is the Minister aware of the fact that these workshops have now proved to be very doubtful ventures? The workshop in London last year proved to be a complete fiasco. Is the Minister further aware that the people in the tourist trade, the travel agents and tour operators, are amazed that Bord Fáilte are repeating what has proved to be a complete fiasco?
If this is the case, the Deputy must be under a very gross misapprehension, because £40,000 is being contributed by the Irish tourist trade towards Bord Fáilte expenditure on the five workshops in North America. That is £40,000 from the actual tourist trade, the hotel trade and the carrier trade.
Could the Minister tell us the cost of the advertising campaign in North America?
That is not in the question but for the overall campaign it is £395,000. It is split 50/50 roughly —I have not got the exact figures— between North America and Europe and Britain.
10.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will now give a comprehensive assessment of the prospects for Irish tourism in 1971 from the evidence available at present.
11.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether, in view of the fact that the peak period for the tourism promotional campaign for the 1971 tourist season is now drawing to a close, he is satisfied with the progress of the campaign to date; and whether any special additional promotional effort will be necessary to ensure that the projected targets for 1971 will be realised.
12.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will indicate in respect of (a) Great Britain, (b) North America and (c) Europe how the volume of tourist bookings to Ireland compares at present with the volume of bookings this time last year.
13.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will indicate the likely volume of tourist traffic to Ireland during 1971 on the cross-Channel and Continental ferry services.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 13 together.
It would be unrealistic to attempt at this stage to make any detailed assessment of bookings or of the general prospects for the 1971 tourist season.
As the Deputy is aware, a special promotional campaign has been initiated by Bord Fáilte in our main markets with a view to attracting additional tourist traffic in the coming season. Bord Fáilte have told me that they are generally satisfied with the progress of the campaign in North America and Europe and that the present indications from these markets are reasonably good.
In Britain, inquiries to Bord Fáilte offices were running at a particularly high rate before the commencement of the British postal strike. The board have taken special measures, in conjunction with the trade, to offset the worst effects of the strike. These include the facilitation of telephone bookings, the promotion of the new computerised reservation service and increased direct promotion to consumers through meetings and travel agents and film show evenings.
I understand that the level of bookings for the cross-Channel and Continental ferry services is satisfactory and shows an increase on last year's figures. However, Deputies will appreciate that having regard to the continued interruption of British postal services and the renewed disturbances in the North any estimate of 1971 tourist traffic at this stage would be conjectural.
Mr. O'Donnell
In relation to Question No. 10, is it not a fact that the Minister's optimistic forecasts when he returned from the States, and in his reply to that question, and all the replies he has given here since last June, are sheer unadulterated bluff?
We cannot have a speech. The Deputy may put a question.
Mr. O'Donnell
Is it not a fact that all the evidence at our disposal, as a result of the marketing campaign over the past three months, clearly indicates that 1971 will be a very difficult tourist season? Would the Minister not agree that something more than the haphazard hit and miss type of marketing effort that is being carried out by Bord Fáilte is necessary, and that only a sustained intensive campaign until June will enable us to break even or to come up to last year's figure?
Of course the Deputy is stating the obvious but we are doing all we can to deal with the problem.
Would the Minister consider instructing Bord Fáilte to prepare a tourist promotional film to be shown during the Eurovision Song Contest since there will be such a colossal viewing audience on that occasion?
Show the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis.
The showing of such a film would benefit considerably the tourist industry.
(Interruptions.)
We will say nothing about Deputy Cruise-O'Brien having been pulled from the rostrum.
I will bring the Deputy's suggestion to the notice of Bord Fáilte.
When the Minister says that everything possible is being done to deal with the problem what exactly does he mean?
Would the Minister say that there is any ground for the information, which is causing a lot of unease among the public at the moment in relation to the tourist trade, that inaccurate figures have been the basis of the Minister's and the board's optimism?
That is a separate matter. It does not arise on the question.
This is a complete figment of the Deputy's imagination.
Mr. O'Donnell
In relation to the promotional campaign of recent months, is the Minister aware that promotional marketing for any particular season commences in about October of the previous year?
Yes.
Mr. O'Donnell
Then, is the Minister aware that it is vitally important that promotional literature such as brochures and so on should be in the hands of tourist promoters and travel agents not later than the 1st November? This being so, can the Minister offer any explanation for the appalling situation that has arisen in relation to the most important piece of tourist literature that is issued—the annual hotel and accommodation guide? This publication is not yet in the hands of tourist operators or travel agents. Would the Minister explain why these people have not received the guide?
Certainly, I will investigate what the Deputy has stated and if he puts down a specific question next week, I shall have the required information for him.
Why not answer the the question?
I am not going to take top-of-the-head talking as a matter of fact.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Question No. 14.
Mr. O'Donnell
The Minister has answered four of my questions. Surely I am entitled to put a supplementary?
The Chair has allowed four or five supplementaries.
This is not the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis.
Mr. O'Donnell
On a point of order——
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
Mr. O'Donnell
Surely I am entitled to ask more than two supplementaries?
The Deputy is not entitled to do anything of the kind.
Mr. O'Donnell
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.