A chara, - The recent proposal by the Department of Tourism to implement a visitor tax of £3 per person should be called the DAFT tax: "Do All Foreign Tourists".
This incomprehensible proposal gives an excellent indication of the poor understanding some officials and politicians have of how to market Irish tourism.
Bord Failte has done some excellent marketing abroad over the past few years, particularly in the US. By promoting Ireland in advertising and promotions, we are in effect inviting people to our country to experience the wide variety of riches on offer. Now we have some genius proposing that we charge an admission fee into the country before the visitor gets going at all.
We are having a very poor tourism season here in Donegal this year, due to a number of factors; if the DAFT tax proposal is the best we can get from Dublin, maybe we should consider allying ourselves with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board! - Is mise, Liam O Cuinneagain,
Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm Cille, Co Dhun na nGall.