It is impossible to over-emphasise the importance of the Belfast Agreement for tourism's prospects, the Minister for Tourism and Sport has said. The industry was on course for record earnings of £2.2 billion and six million overseas visitors this year. Dr McDaid was speaking at a media briefing in Dublin before Bord Failte's workshops for international markets. He said there was no doubt the peace process was having a positive effect on the Republic's most important market, Britain.
Even before the agreement, Bord Failte's London office was reporting a 37 per cent increase in inquiries.
Ms Margaret Cahill, Bord Failte's general manager in the UK, said 80 UK tour operators would be represented at the workshops, 20 of whom had never before featured Irish holidays in their travel brochures.
Dr McDaid said the peace negotiations in Belfast had received saturation coverage in the United States, with favourable reaction for tourism. Aer Lingus was introducing a year-round service from Newark, New Jersey, to Shannon and Dublin. For the first time in years a mainstream US scheduled airline, Continental, was introducing a daily service to Ireland, also from Newark.
Dr McDaid revealed a divergence of opinion between his Department and the tourist industry on marketing in Germany. He said he felt the internal economic problems in Germany should lead to fewer resources being devoted to that market.
The industry, on the other hand, believed that Germany was too important a market to be neglected. "There is room for legitimate debate on this issue." Bord Failte intended to have a more "hands on" approach to the German market, he said, which was understood to mean that the new director for Europe would be based in Frankfurt.
Dr McDaid emphasised the importance of Ireland's staging the opening of the Tour de France this year in several European markets. Inquiries at the Paris office of Bord Failte had been up by 20 per cent. Inquiries at the Milan office were up by 11 per cent, Dr McDaid said. Demand was very strong in the Scandinavian markets, although he agreed this was from a low base.
He said he was determined that any proposed industrial action by gardai would not disrupt the Irish stages of the Tour de France. The TV audience for the cycling race was 950 million people, according to Dr McDaid, and he had no intention of allowing Ireland to lose this unique marketing opportunity.
The Irish welcome was a precious asset and we should not become complacent about its importance to the tourist industry, Dr McDaid said.
Bord Failte's chairman, Mr Mark Mortell, said visitors who encountered "thuggery" during an Irish holiday had an experience in dissonance with their expectations. Dr McDaid said he was aware of some unease in the tourist industry that Bord Failte is entering the high season without a director-general, an international marketing director or a director for Europe. The position of director-general has now been advertised.
Mr Mortell said recruitment consultants had advised it could take between eight and 10 weeks to find a replacement for Mr Matt McNulty.