Vol. 260 No. 1
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether, in view of the encouraging tourist figures for the Easter weekend from Britain, he is prepared to have any discussions with the semi-State bodies concerned who recently terminated their promotion campaign in Britain.
53.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he proposes to take any special steps at this stage to intensify the tourism promotional and publicity campaigns in Britain, Europe and North America; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
54.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the latest information available on the likely prospects for tourism traffic from Britain, Europe and North America during the 1972 tourist season.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 53 and 54 together.
None of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department have terminated their tourism promotional campaigns in Britain. I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 25 on 22nd February last in the course of which I explained in detail the situation in relation to CIE's promotional work in Britain. Intensive promotional and publicity campaigns are being carried out by Bord Fáilte in Britain in conjunction with the regional tourism companies and the other State bodies involved in Irish tourism. These campaigns are being concentrated on the ethnic market. Intensive campaigns are also being carried out in North America and Europe. I am satisfied that every effort is being made by the State bodies concerned to promote Irish holidays as vigorously as possible.
Bord Fáilte have informed me that in view of the fluidity of the situation in Northern Ireland and its likely effects on tourism earnings in 1972 it is not possible at this stage to give a meaningful forecast of tourism revenue this year.
In relation to the British market and particularly in relation to the ethnic promotion campaign going on there, is the Minister aware that the regional tourism companies and Bord Fáilte in Britain have neither adequate finance nor manpower to sustain this campaign for another month or two? Would the Minister look into this matter because it is of vital importance that the advertising and publicity campaign be sustained, particularly the ethnic market campaign?
I want to repudiate that suggestion entirely. I am in almost daily consultation with Bord Fáilte on this matter and during the past few days both they and the regional tourism companies have assured me that there is no lack either in regard to funds or personnel in this area. I speak on behalf of myself as Minister and on behalf of the Government when I say that so far as we are concerned there will be no lack of funds for this purpose. If Bord Fáilte or the regional tourism companies have any problems in this area I would like to hear from them. Personally, I am aware that they have no problems in this regard.
Is the Minister aware——
I am calling Question No. 55.
——that there is no sales representative attached to the Birmingham office of Bord Fáilte, that there is only a manager there? Also, is he aware that the officer who is handling ethnic traffic for Bord Fáilte was sent back to Glasgow last week where he is office manager and that there is no ethnic travel officer attached to Bord Fáilte in Britain now?
I have taken up numerous allegations of this nature that have been made by the Deputy and have found them to be without foundation.
I have been over there.
Certainly I will take up this particular matter again with Bord Fáilte.
Regarding the suggestion in the latter part of the Minister's reply that it is not possible at this stage to give a meaningful forecast of tourist revenue for this country for this year, in view of the fact that there could not be a Budget presented to this House without having an estimate of the trend of GNP and the trend of tourism and since such an estimate was made by Bord Fáilte there must be an estimate in the Government files in preparation for the Budget. Would the Minister like to tell us what are the Government's current expectations in respect of tourism?
The Deputy will appreciate that with the advice of Bord Fáilte and my Department, the Government have taken a rough guideline as to tourism prospects but one cannot in any way be definitive at this stage because of the uncertain nature of British and Northern Ireland tourism to Ireland by reason of the political situation—a fact of life of which the Deputy is well aware.
We appreciate——
We must move on to the other questions.
——the uncertainty but can the Minister give us a rough guideline?
This is a matter for our own assessment in conjunction with the Budget.
