Vol. 547 No. 1
43 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the specific proposals he has to assist the tourism industry overcome the difficulties it faces in 2002 arising from events on 11 September 2001, having particular regard to the loss of revenue it has already sustained in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2531/02]
62 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to claims that up to 620,000 airline seats have been cut from flights into Dublin for 2002; if he has carried out an assessment of the implications for tourism of this reduction in seat numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2540/02]
65 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his proposals for specific tourism initiatives aimed at the British and European markets having regard to the problems being encountered with the US market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2541/02]
67 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received a submission from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation proposing certain short-term initiatives to get tourism moving again; if so, his views on the submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2533/02]
71 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his plans to revive the tourism industry in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2661/02]
73 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the estimated number of visitors and revenue lost in 2001 as a result of foot and mouth and the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/02]
76 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the projected number of tourists expected to visit here in 2002; the projected increase or decrease in tourism revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2532/02]
77 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has particular proposals to assist the tourism industry to compete more effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2539/02]
80 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to claims made by the Donegal branch of the Irish Hotels Federation that tourism bookings from the US have dropped by as much as 60% over the same period in 2001 as a result of the impact of the 11 September 2001 attacks; the information available to his Department on the level of bookings from the United States for 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2530/02]
1043 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the way in which the 11 million announced in budget 2002 for tourism will be spent; and his proposals in this regard. [1497/02]
1059 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the amount of finance available in 2002 for tourism marketing; the way in which the allocation will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2037/02]
1079 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his proposals to fund a revival of the tourism industry in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2880/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 62, 65, 67, 71, 73, 76, 77, 80, 1043, 1059 and 1079 together, the latter three being written questions.
I remind the Minister that there are less than six minutes remaining.
The answer to these questions is similar to the first part of the answer to Question No. 34 and, to allow the Deputies to ask further questions, I will not read this answer.
With regard to the USA, and the marketing money that has been spent, is it successful because the US visitor spends twice as much as the British visitor, stays longer and avails of more expensive hotels? It is important we get the US market back on track. Will the Minister give us an update on how Bord Fáilte and his Department perceive the figures for 2002?
I was talking recently to Paul O'Toole the chief executive of TIL. He was in the United States over the past two weeks and he is upbeat about what the first quarter of 2002 will produce. Nonetheless, we must remember what happened on 11 September. However, because the industry has brought forward excellent packages, a number of people from the United States are availing of them. The Deputy is correct that US visitors are the large spenders here. While we had a 7% downturn in visitor numbers, there was only a 1% downturn in revenue. Much of that had to do with the new access routes opened in 2000 and 2001 from the United States.
I am more optimistic concerning the United States having spoken to the chief executive last week. It is important that we maintain the gateways that have been opened and that we do not lose any others. Hopefully, Aer Lingus will be able to open up Washington and Baltimore in the not too distant future. The US market is being managed by TIL and I will not have figures until later in the year with regard to the potential, but I am optimistic.
The Minister said in response to an earlier question that the Government would make a decision in regard to low cost access in Ireland. Will the Minister expand on that statement and tell us when this can be expected? Does he agree that the lateness of this for the next tourist season is a matter of concern? Does he agree that these decisions and announcements should have been made before now given that the tourist season and the marketing for it are well under way?
As the Deputy is aware from the newspapers, there has been ongoing discussion about whether a further terminal would be required at Dublin Airport. We commissioned a report from Mr. Douganis on that matter which favoured the building of a low cost access terminal at Dublin Airport. That was a recent report and the matter will come before Government now. We get such reports, examine them and find out what is in the best interest of the tourism industry, particularly in regard to infrastructural access. That is what we are doing. I agree with the Deputy that we need to act now for 2002 but we also need to be sure of what we are doing because the industry will remain long after we are gone. We want to ensure that the decisions we take now are in the best interest of the country and the tourism industry. We have been discussing the matter since the Douganis report became available. We are taking the issues on board and it will be discussed at Government level.
Has the Minister had any discussions with the airline industry in regard to progress on the opening up of the Washington and Baltimore routes? Will the Minister try to enter negotiations to ensure that those routes open before Easter?
The only discussions I have had have been informal. I had discussions with Mark Mortell of Aer Lingus and I pointed out to him the benefit of opening up the two areas that were closed down and how important it was not to close any further routes. That discussion with Mark Mortell was part of a meeting I had with ITIC. The Deputy understands that is not a matter for my Department, but Aer Lingus certainly knows my views and has received encouragement from me.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
