Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

There will be a significant concentration on spend in the UK market. It is happening already through Tourism Ireland. The Government tried to use the St. Patrick's Day event to promote this country strongly. I was in London and at every media opportunity I made a strong pitch for this country. I pointed out that, as the Deputy said, we were never more competitive as regards hotel bedrooms in this country. We will have to tell the world. Some people see the reduction in the price of hotels as negative — hoteliers, for example — but I see it as positive. The message should be promoted more.

We are also promoting this country more as an activity centre. Unfortunately, even though we have one of the finest outdoors in the world that we can use year-round as it never gets too warm or too cold, people do not know about it. Some people who attended a major fair on outdoor activity holidays in England where there is considerable growth in that particular market said they were not aware of what was happening in this country. We must ensure that we send a clear marketing message to UK visitors. The number of visitors from the UK is in decline but the number coming to this country has declined more than to other destinations. We must also restore the American market, which I understand is showing positive signs of recovery this year. That is the message I have received from CIE Tours and golf clubs such as Ballybunion where much interest has been expressed this year from America, more so than in previous years. The American market will come back and the UK market will recover to some extent.

The visits of both President Obama and Queen Elizabeth will be very important for this country. It is important that we hang out our brightest colours and that both heads of state get a very good welcome in this country. We should use their visits to demonstrate what we have to offer, show our strengths and how our culture has developed. We must put some of our best-known performers on a worldwide basis in front of global television networks that will cover the events. It is important that we maximise those events to the full, both to honour the people who are coming but also to sell this country all over the world. There will be major interest in both of the visits.

See this speech in context