These are just some of the issues that the tourism industry faces this year, but it is also worth pointing out that the western regions are most likely to be negatively affected. On top of all the reasons which I have already set forth, the issue of limited direct air access is another factor which must be considered. For example, this year Shannon Airport has lost a number of scheduled air services from the United States, from Europe and from Britain. In total, there has been a net loss of as many as 6,000 seats per week in the high season. How can the tourism industry be expected to thrive in an area when the target markets continue to decline? It was brought home starkly to me last week when I was the guest of the US Business Council for Commerce and Economics at a dinner in New York and met with a number of tour operators and a number of people from Tourism Ireland. They were quick to point out to me that there is a shortage of access to Ireland on the transatlantic route. That is a particular concern.