Questions relating to specific marketing and advertising programmes of the state tourism marketing agencies fall within the day-to-day competence of the bodies in question. However, I understand that Bord Fáilte recently circulated to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas details of their calendar of autumn promotions, including activities envisaged in the United States up to the end of the year. These activities include the promotion of special fares and holiday packages for Christmas and the New Year, which will be financed out of funds at the disposal of the Bord, including additional Exchequer funding of £7 million – 8.8 million – for the tourism marketing reassurance campaign designed to help offset the adverse impact of the foot and mouth crisis.
The latest official CSO statistics for visitor numbers from North America are for the six month period ended 30 June 2001 which show a decline of 3.9% in visitor numbers compared to the same period last year.