Vol. 465 No. 6
34 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the prospects for the 1996 tourist season; whether the ending of the IRA ceasefire will impact on the tourist season in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10263/96]
The initial target set by Bord Fáilte was for overall growth in visitor numbers of 10 per cent above 1995 levels. Latest indications from the markets are that this target is achievable, with Britain and North America, in particular, expected to perform strongly.
It is difficult to assess precisely the overall impact of the ending of the IRA ceasefire, but Bord Fáilte's ongoing monitoring shows that in those markets where inquiry levels dropped in the immediate aftermath of Canary Wharf, they recovered very quickly following resumption of advertising campaigns.
