Losses to tourism `could be cut by half'

The losses suffered by the tourism industry from the foot-and-mouth crisis could be down to £225 million - half the figure originally feared - the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Recreation, Mr McDaid, said yesterday. Following the special meeting of the Cabinet in Kerry, the Minister said: "There has been a bumper May, a bumper Easter. There are a lot of positive aspects that were not foreseen." The £225 million prediction amounts to between eight and 10 per cent of the tourism industry's expected revenues this year: "We will take a hit. But we don't know what the summer will bring. I would be very confident of the autumn and, certainly, I would be confident about next year." During the Cabinet gathering in Muckross House, outside Killarney, ministers agreed to invest a further £2 million in international marketing, bringing the total for 2001 to £66.3 million - a £17 million increase on the figure for 2000. Urging the industry to be positive, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said: "Rather than talking about what we have lost we should build on what we have. If you talk negatively, others will get a negative message." Paying tribute to all those involved in the fight against foot-and-mouth, he said: "That campaign was a campaign to save a very important industry: Irish agriculture. This is a campaign to recover another very important industry. Of course, in Kerry, both of these industries make up almost the entire economy." The contribution made by everyone who curtailed sporting, cultural and business events during the height of the crisis should not be underestimated: "The Government formally wants to thank people for the solidarity shown with the rural community over the last couple of months," he said. Welcoming the Taoiseach to Muckross House, the chairman of Killarney of The Welcomes, Mr Sean Coyne, said: "Thank you for bringing the first Cabinet meeting to Kerry in the history of the State, to indicate to the world that all of rural Ireland is open to visitors. "Your visit is especially significant this year as Killarney prepares to mark 250 years in tourism," said Mr Coyne, who invited Mr Ahern to officially open a year a of celebrations, titled "Killarney 250", to mark the milestone.

Currently, Killarney is bidding to host the 2004 World Cycling Championships which, if successful, will guarantee a £35 million boost for the local industry and 200 hours of international television coverage.

Despite the optimistic tone, the Government urged the public to stay on its guard: "There is a need for continued vigilance. The persistence of foot-and-mouth disease in some areas of Britain means that we need to maintain a high level of care," it said in a statement. Earlier, the West Kerry roads action group handed in a letter protesting at the state of the roads on the Dingle Peninsula. "One million people travel there annually. The road should be paved with gold," said a group spokesman, Mr Billie McElligott.