Ireland is turning into a filthy racist country, with unfriendly people, prices that are too high and distinctive scenery that is destroyed by illegal dumping and bad planning, the Dáil was told.
"Signposting is often illogical and our public transport system is inadequate," said Mr Paul Gogarty (Green Party TD, Dublin Mid-West) during the opening debate on the National Tourism Development Authority Bill.
The legislation provides for the establishment of a national tourism development body, responsible for the promotion and development of tourism facilities and services. Bord Fáilte and CERT will be dissolved and their role taken over by the new body.
The Bill was introduced by the Minister for Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, who said it was "tightly focused" and not about setting new parameters for tourism policy.
This was being undertaken by a tourism review group, he said acknowledging that tourism had reached a critical level. It accounts for about 5 per cent of annual GNP and supports about one in every 12 jobs in the economy.
Mr Gogarty, however concentrated on tourism strategy and in sharp criticism of its condition, said there had to be some substance to tourism strategy rather than just concentrating on marketing Ireland as a premium tourist destination. Marketing could only achieve so much on its own, he said.
The number of visitors had dropped, but the fact that the average length of stay decreased by 20 per cent had even more far-reaching consequences.
"Ireland's litter problems are increasing, as is the phenomenon of alcohol-related violence. The traditional Irish welcome seems to be rare," said the Green party TD. "I fear that the substance we had to offer in the past is being diminished. Our unique selling point to tourists as Irish people is being diminished." He asked "how can you say 'welcome to Ireland' when this country is turning into a banana republic?"
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