A mixed bag

The last few months have been challenging, to say the least, and it looks as if that trend
is set to continue. There are currency fluctuations, daunting CSO figures, and Nama
Hotels driving the rate further downwards. Add to this, government departments, who
instead off helping the situation, only seem to hinder it. For instance, when the industry
talks about new and emerging markets, places like China, India and Russia spring
to mind.

These markets are regularly visiting the UK, including Northern Ireland, and numbers
are growing year on year. Yet a group of Chinese travellers, visiting Northern Ireland,
are advised that, due to travel restrictions, they can not visit the Republic. They can
stand at the border, in Warrenpoint, and take photos across the bay at a country who
didn’t allow them access. Ironically, they probably heard about the country through
Tourism Ireland who market the island of Ireland. This shows the lunacy of our rules and
regulations: farcical and bizarre. It is time our government departments synchronised
their information and ensure we can accommodate and improve this situation.

Another example of shooting ourselves in the foot is in regard to the €10 travel tax,
imposed in the last budget. When concern was voiced about this, detractors were
equated to doomsayers and their opposition was rubbished. Alas, it seems these
concerns were well founded, as outlined in the recent Ryanair report. While we can
raise our eyebrows at some of O’Leary's antics, it seems he read this one right it
seems. The airline claimed the government’s tourist tax and the Dublin Airport Authority
(DAA) charges have been detrimental to Irish tourism.

"Passenger numbers at the airport fell by over 650,000 in the first three months of the
year due to the government’s €10 tourist tax and high charges at the DAA monopoly
airport." Stephen McNamara, spokesman for Ryanair, accused the government of
using the volcanic ash disruption as an excuse for the decline in tourists arriving at
Dublin Airport. "The excuse from the government for the collapse in traffic at Ireland’s
gateway airport is much easier than the usual lies about it being an international
phenomenon: they just blame the volcano."

Is there any sign that things are improving? Well, the announcement that the
Ballsbridge D4 hotel site in Dublin has been given approval is welcomed, given the fact
it will take 500 hotel rooms out of the equation. No doubt it will be challenged, but given
our current economic position, I can’t see the planning or government bodies wanting
to put a stop to this. Then we have Minister Mary Hanafin announcing a number of
strategies that will go some way to helping the industry. The establishment of a new
special group to drive actions on measures to support tourism in Ireland, for instance,
is one such measure.

The new Renewal Implementation Group will be made up of members, drawn from
across the tourism sector and chaired by the Minister herself. With recent increases in
funding for various tourist based attractions and facilities, you get a sense she is
putting things into action. Given her performance to date, we might expect a
comprehensive, focused approach for the next few years. Bang a few department
heads together and we might even have a cohesive approach to the needs of tourism
in all areas, from taxation to access.

Cyril McAree

EDITOR