Vol. 258 No. 11
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the most recent reports of a possible large-scale fall-off in tourist business for 1972, he will make a statement as to the Government's efforts to minimise the consequences in the event of such a fall-off.
25.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the adverse effect of the most recent events in Northern Ireland on the tourist industry, he will state what steps, if any, are being taken to boost this trade for the 1972 season.
26.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the enormous financial losses forecast for the hotel industry with the projected closing of several hotels, he will indicate whether his Department has any contingency plans to alleviate this situation and avert any consequent redundancies.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 26 together.
As a result of the unrest in Northern Ireland it is likely that there will be a fall-off in non-ethnic tourist traffic from Britain this year. Bord Fáilte have informed me of a growing resistance being encountered by their staff doing promotional work in Britain.
I would point out, however, that it has been our policy in recent years to secure increased diversification of our tourist traffic and as a result traffic from North America and the Continent are a more significant element in our total tourist trade than they were some years ago. These markets have been showing reasonable promise and Bord Fáilte are carrying out intensive marketing campaigns in these areas. In addition the board are now diverting promotional efforts from Britain into the North American and European markets with a view to generating additional traffic.
Concentration in Britain is now directed towards the ethnic market. I have already explained to the Dáil, in reply to a question on the subject on 8th February, the measures which Bord Fáilte are taking to increase the volume of that traffic with a view to offsetting to the maximum possible extent the likely loss in the number of general tourists from Britain.
At home, Bord Fáilte, in association with the Regional Tourism Organisations and other tourist interests, are conducting a special campaign to encourage Irish people to spend their holidays in this country. I know that in the present situation many people will want to take home holidays this year. For that purpose it is essential that all the tourist interests here should demonstrate that they can offer a range of home holidays at attractive prices which will provide good value for money.
I am keeping in very close touch with the entire tourism situation, through Bord Fáilte and other tourist interests, and I expect to review the position with representatives of the hotel industry in the very near future.
I should like to ask the Minister if he is aware that the home holidays campaign, the campaign on the ethnic market and also the marketing campaign in Europe are just not good enough to meet present circumstances and would he not now take steps to ensure a proper campaign is mounted in these three markets, which offer the only hope for any progress in the tourist industry this year?
I agree with the Deputy and I am meeting Bord Fáilte on Monday next to devise a plan of campaign to ensure that whatever money is available in the whole promotional marketing field will be directed towards where we will get practical benefit from it and the areas to which the Deputy referred are the areas from which we will derive practical benefit in the coming tourist season.
Surely northern Europe is far in front of America.
Is the Minister now saying that in the coming tourist season we will be depending on Irish emigrants coming home from abroad to save what remains of our tourist market? Is that the position?
If the Deputy would be less emotional and more practical it would be appreciated.
In view of the peculiar position of Donegal, and bearing in mind that it depends largely on Northern Ireland and Scotland for tourists, could the Minister tell me what efforts he is making in Northern Ireland and Scotland to promote tourism for Donegal this year?
This is part of what I said in my reply; concentrating on the ethnic market is very logical from the point of view of Donegal. We will do this by keeping in touch with Irish associations and right down to the grassroots with everyone of Irish extraction or with Irish associations. The ethnic market is, as I said, a very logical market from the point of view of Donegal and I appreciate what the Deputy has said. It is on this market we will have to depend largely this year. These are the facts of life.
Could the Minister say whether it is proposed to retain the special low fare campaign launched by CIE throughout the tourist season? It could be very relevant.
It is.
It could be very relevant to the home holidays campaign. Does the Minister propose to take any steps to reduce air and sea transport charges across the Irish Sea? These would also be very relevant to the ethnic market. These are two practical matters which would be of great help to this market.
Every practical step of the kind mentioned by the Deputy will be considered. We will do the utmost we can.
Is there any possibility of a great air robbery?
Not if it is hijacking.
