Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 November 2002

Tourism Industry: Statements.

 

It is important that we should be prepared for events of this nature in the future. I am not stating we should be in any way overly obsessed with something which may never occur. However, we should be prepared by putting in place, for example, a reasonable tourism recovery programme which would be of assistance if there was a recurrence of events of that nature. The current global conflict is somewhat like a stew simmering on the stove. We do not know when it is going to boil over and have reached a point where anything could happen. There could be a repeat of the terrible tragedy that occurred a year and a half ago and we must have a reasonable tourism recovery programme in place in order that we could immediately respond to the needs of those in the tourism sector, particularly those who own family run bed and breakfast establishments and guesthouses. The latter are the ones who felt the heat following the downturn in the tourism sector. We must be in a position to recover as quickly as possible from the type of events to which I refer, to facilitate those affected by them and to encourage people in the various areas of the tourism sector to remain involved. If we are not seen to be taking such action, the tourism sector as a whole could suffer.

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