RORY O'GRADY,
Sir, - Your Editorial of June 28th, "Céad Míle Fáilte", might might more appropriately have been headed, "Welcome to Rip-Off Ireland".
Some of the reasons for the decline in tourism numbers for 2001 are well documented, (the foot-and-mouth scare and September 11th), but are we conveniently overlooking one of the main causes of the decline? That is the inexorable rise in prices in this country compared with many of our competitors. The disparity is clear to the increasing number of Irish people choosing to holiday abroad, particularly since the advent of the single currency.
The provisional figures for 2001 indicate that, despite a 5 per cent drop in overseas visitor numbers from 2000 to 2001, spending increased by 8 per cent. The reported increase in domestic tourism has yet to be quantified, but as an insider, I will be astounded if this exceeds 5 per cent - yet a 16 per cent increase in revenue is reported. This can mean only one thing: fewer visitors are being asked to provide increased annual revenue.
Mr John O'Donoghue has obviously been listening to people with some grasp of reality in his first days in office and realises that throwing more money into overseas marketing at this stage is not the solution. His comments about service standards and quality are well founded and your Editorial's contention that these are issues for the industry to sort out urgently will be echoed by all who are concerned for an industry that employs more people than any other in this State.
Value for money and friendly service have been the basic factors in the development of Irish tourism. Sustainability - in environmental, social and economic terms - has recently become a critical issue. If the basics are neglected, the industry will learn a very sharp lesson. - Yours, etc.,
RORY O'GRADY,
Shankill,
Co Dublin.