Vol. 438 No. 8
55 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his Department and Bord Fáilte will invest more financial resources in seeking out new markets in the Nordic countries particularly Norway, Sweden and Finland following the success of the Iceland campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
61 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his Department and Bord Fáilte will invest more financial resources in seeking out new markets in the Nordic countries particularly Norway, Sweden and Finland following the success of the Iceland campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
62 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his Department and Bord Fáilte will invest more financial resources in seeking out new markets in the Nordic countries particularly Norway, Sweden and Finland following the success of the Iceland campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 55, 61 and 62 together.
There is £21.7 million included in the Estimates of my Department for 1994 which will enable Bord Fáilte to provide for its tourism promotional functions.
At present the board has offices situated in Denmark and Sweden and recently positioned a representative in Norway. They are also in the process of opening a tourism facility within the embassy in Finland. A series of trade and consumer promotions have just been completed in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Advertising campaigns are also planned for Denmark and Sweden and Bord Fáilte will have a stand at the main Pan-Nordic travel fair in Gothenburg during March.
Overall, the Swedish market was particularly buoyant during 1993 and following a work shop last year Ireland is now being featured by more than 80 major tour operators in the Nordic countries. A charter series from Stockholm into Cork is planned for this year as well as other partcharters from Norway via London and Copenhagen in addition to a charter series from Helsinki into Dublin.
