MARKETING of Ireland as a holiday destination is being reviewed by Bord Failte following the latest IRA bombs in London.
Meetings between Bord Failte personnel, the Department of Tourism and Trade and the Minister, Mr Kenny, will take place this week to discuss the current situation and the worst possible scenario, which was identified as bombs going off in the Republic
Bord Failte executives including director general Mr Mall McNulty said in Cork yesterday they were optimistic the London bombs would not have any adverse affect on numbers coming to Ireland for holidays this summer following the record numbers last year. Inquiries increased by 25 per cent in January compared with the same month in 1995.
After the Canary Wharf bomb two weeks ago, there were few if any cancellations in holidays and only a very slight drop in the level of inquiries in the UK, while there was no effect at all reported on interest from the US and the Continent.
However, all Bord Failte offices were asked to monitor closely any shift in inquiries, especially after the latest explosives incident, and at high level meetings today and tomorrow decisions will be taken about how to spend the marketing budget.
Already some television advertisements in the UK have been cancelled, but Bord Failte's international marketing director, Mr Noel Toolan, said the funds would be spent. It was simply a matter of ensuring they were used most effectively.
While Ireland was heading for earnings of £2 billion from more than 4.5 million tourists this year, much depended on whether the bombing campaign by the IRA continued and whether it spread to Ireland.
Unlike the Gulf War, when US tourists cancelled almost all foreign travel, there appeared to be a far greater acceptance that incidents such as the bombing could be localised, said Mr Toolan.
One important indicator to date was that none of the US bands due in Ireland for St Patrick's Day had cancelled, unlike during the Gulf? War when 50 per cent did not come.
He added that while the peace dividend had played an important role in increasing the tourists coming to Ireland, the numbers both north and south had been steadily increasing for some time.
"We must hold our nerve, look at the risks, not overreact, pick the people we know understand the business and the Troubles in Ireland and keep reassuring them that the business is fine," he said. However, he adding that an extension of the violence to the south would change much of that.
Mrs McNulty said the cumulative effect of violence would be very bad but if the bombing ceased soon, not much damage would be done to tourism.
"The attitude of the Irish people is imperative. The silent majority in favour of peace must break their silence", he said.