Mr. Mark Henry:

I am happy start. The Chairman mentioned three different issues, the regional distribution of tourism, the seasonal distribution of tourism, and competitiveness. In terms of competitiveness, the consumer last year gave us excellent feedback to the effect that we have seen several years of price improvements. The visitor attitude survey to which Mr. Quinn referred shows that consumers are very positive about the value they are now getting. I welcome some of the comments last week by the chairman of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation who noted that they lost the run of themselves - I think that is the phrase he used - in the industry in terms of pricing at the peak in 2007. That is welcome. We are in a good place but we have to safeguard it. In Tourism Ireland, we are picking up some anecdotal feedback, particularly from tour operators who are looking to contract forward beyond this summer, that prices are going up. Double digit price increases are being sought for accommodation especially in the major urban centres that tourists want to visit. We have reflected the concern to the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation and other industry members that it is important we do not get ourselves back to the position we were in. It is one to watch.

The Chairman referred to geographical or regional distribution. The keys to regional and seasonal spread are in the same vein. I mentioned the Wild Atlantic Way as one of our key focuses. It gives people strong and wonderful reasons not just to take the day trip from Dublin, where they may choose to base themselves, to the Cliffs of Moher and back by midnight, but rather to stay in the west and explore it. We see that as our key contribution to addressing regional distribution this year. It is ongoing. More regional access is also important. People will stay near where they fly into and out of. The growth in Shannon and Cork access is an important aspect of addressing that. My colleague, Ms McManamy, may talk about how we work to develop business cases with airlines for additional access.