Sir, – Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar must have recently emerged from a high-altitude flight short on oxygen (“Spitfire and B-17 part of Dublin city flypast”, May 15th ).
He appears to believe a once-off River Liffey flyover of mainly commercial jets this autumn will attract throngs of long-stay / high-pay tourists. Absent is an iconic aircraft people can visit that holds powerful narratives, conveys emotionally-captivating stories, radiates life lessons transcending time and place.
Annually attracting to Ireland hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of aspiring and aviation-minded tourists requires an iconic aircraft of historical renown. An aeronautical gem that already globally whispers to key demographics and psychographics regardless of gender, race or nationality.
Fly-past stunts and related press conferences certainly capture headlines – on that day only. But why not seize opportunities brimming with powerful advantages for tourism marketing, nation branding, inward investment buzz, and sustainable tourism inflows?
Mr Varadkar is right about aviation, but he needs to think more clearly. Millions of economically distressed Irish citizens are still waiting for more creative, intuitive and inspiring leadership. Pass him the oxygen! – Yours, etc,
JIM EGAN,
President,
Ferrumar,
Mountainside Trace,
Kennesaw,
Georgia, US.