asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether Bord Fáilte have carried out any recent survey into the causes of the present serious situation in the tourist industry; and, if so, what the findings are; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Industry.
14.
Mr. O'Donnell
Bord Fáilte publish, on a monthly basis, a tourism intelligence report which gives the results of a survey covering business in hotels and guesthouses in the previous month and the state of advance bookings for the next two months, together with reactions in each overseas market area. The latest report available covers actual business in May, 1972, and advance bookings for June and July. The report indicates a decrease in business and bookings in approximately 66 per cent of hotels and guesthouses compared with the corresponding months last year; the remaining 34 per cent have shown an increase or have maintained last year's level of activity.
As part of this survey, hoteliers and guesthouse proprietors who reported a decrease in business or bookings were asked to comment on what, in their opinion, were the adverse factors which occasioned this. The fall-off in British and Northern Ireland business due to the Northern Ireland troubles was the adverse factor most frequently referred to by hoteliers and guesthouse proprietors.
Mr. O'Donnell
Is the Minister aware that at the weekend Bord Fáilte carried out a very desirable experiment by bringing to this country members of a prestigious London tourism travel club and that, judging from the reports of the reactions of these people, they were agreeably surprised to find that many of the fears which their potential customers in Britain held regarding holidays in Ireland were groundless? Would the Minister consider bringing over a group of the top level travel writers from the British newspapers and people from selected groups of travel agents? This would be a great help at this stage.
What the Deputy suggests has been done down through the years. With the new climate in Northern Ireland which we all hope will work out properly, such efforts will be made again immediately by Bord Fáilte.
Mr. O'Donnell
Would the Minister not consider discussing with Bord Fáilte the possibility of bringing over a group of travel writers as soon as possible?
This is being done by Bord Fáilte.
Mr. O'Donnell
Will there be another group coming shortly?
This has been a continuing practice by Bord Fáilte but the recent difficulties made any such step a counterproductive step. In the new climate this can be done immediately and, I understand, is being done by Bord Fáilte.
Can the Minister say whether his Department or any other Department have taken steps to encourage civil servants to take their holidays in Ireland this year and, in that way, to display a little patriotism?
We are bringing normal pressure to bear on everybody, including TDs, to spend their holidays at home this year.
What form has that pressure taken?
All I can do is to advise people to have holidays at home this year and the results to date have been excellent.
15.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he recently received a submission from the Irish Hotels Federation containing recommendations on tourism policy; if so, what the recommendations were; and what action he has taken or proposes to take on the matter.
In March last, the Irish Hotels Federation made a submission to me which covered a wide range of items, including the provision of additional amenity and recreational facilities at resorts, increased funds for promotional activities in overseas markets and assistance for hotels in financial difficulties.
I discussed the contents of the submission with representatives of the federation on 27th March, 1972, and subsequently conveyed the submission to Bord Fáilte. It has already been decided to provide an additional amount of £500,000 in the current year, as an exceptional measure, to meet the cost of special amenity works at tourist resorts throughout the country. Bord Fáilte have substantially increased their promotional budget in those markets likely to prove most responsive at the present time, particularly the European market and the ethnic markets in Britain and North America. The board have had discussions with the federation about hotels in financial difficulties and are keeping the situation under constant review.
16.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power why tourist bookings from North America are considerably below the level confidently forecast earlier this year.
The Deputy is mistaken. Bord Fáilte did not forecast tourist bookings but did forecast a decline of 10 per cent in the number of American visitors this year and have not so far altered this estimate. Actual numbers for the first five months were up 7.5 per cent but the great bulk of American visitors arrive later in the year.
17.
(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Transport and Power the present position regarding tourist bookings; and how the figures compare with the number of bookings at the same time last year.
Due to the increasingly high number of casual bookings, hoteliers and guesthouse proprietors are finding it very difficult to give an accurate assessment of their advance bookings. Bord Fáilte's intelligence report for May shows that 66 per cent of the hotel and guesthouse proprietors surveyed reported a decrease in bookings for June and July compared with the same period last year. This report does not indicate the extent of the decrease, however.
The latest market data in the Bord Fáilte report indicates that combined sea and air traffic from Britain in the five months ended 31st May, 1972, decreased by 4 per cent; accompanied cars inwards for this period decreased by 22 per cent. Northern Ireland traffic is expected to show a very substantial decrease. Returns for the first five months show a growth of 7.5 per cent in numbers of visitors from North America but the outlook for the remainder of the season is not good. Reports of bookings in France and Germany are encouraging and are likely to show an increase on last year's figures.
Question No. 18 postponed.