Irish tourism looks forward to the future
A NEW Government-backed report has set out the future for the tourist industry in Ireland.
The report says Ireland’s tourism sector needs to ensure it offers greater value for money to remain competitive in an increasingly cut-throat international market.
It also calls call for an urgent renegotiation of the US-Ireland airline landing deal — downgrading the existing Shannon stopover for transatlantic flights.
The Strategic Tourism Review drawn up by a Government think-tank sets strict targets for the industry and recommends action to be taken by both the public and private sectors as well to ensure the tourism industry continues to grow.
The report — launched by Minister for Tourism John O’Donoghue — comes amid fears the numbers of tourists heading for Ireland could be hit by increased competition from other destinations.
It says tourism is at a crossroads after a successful decade of growth during the 1990s and warns there are indications of a deterioration in Ireland’s competitiveness in the international tourism market.
Mr O’Donoghue set up the Tourism Policy Review Group last year to plan the way ahead for the industry.
Industry analysts believe that the importance of the tourism industry is often understated.
After agriculture and food tourism is now Ireland’s biggest indigenous industry in the country — employing 150,000 people and worth more than £3.5billion to the economy.
But the industry has been hit by the war in Iraq, SARS and the continuing worldwide economic slump sparked by the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The review evaluates the economic and social contribution of the tourism industry and prospects for the international travel and tourism sector in the medium and longer term.
It also recommends the downgrading of the Shannon stopover to bring in more American visitors.
Under the present agreement Aer Lingus has access to five US airports while any airlines operating flights between Ireland and America must serve Shannon as often as Dublin.
Aer Lingus wants the Government to renegotiate the bilateral agreement with the US to allow them to gain access to 50 new routes.
The European Union new open skies plan will prevent member states from favouring national airlines over EU rivals on the lucrative routes to America.
The Government policy is to protect the Shannon stopover and argues for special treatment of the airport given its importance to the West of Ireland and the thousands of jobs it provides in the Mid-West.
But most American operators see Dublin as the main favoured destination for visitors especially as many American tourists head to the capital first before travelling through the rest of the country.
The review recommends the negotiation of a new flights deal to the US to bring in more visitors from North America which it says would benefit the entire country including the Mid-West.
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