Taoiseach rejects US tourism call

The Taoiseach firmly ruled out a tourism marketing campaign in the United States.

Mr Ahern said the Government was conscious of what needed to be done in the US but he did not agree with a marketing campaign right now.

"Meetings in New York, Washington and other places in the United States are being cancelled. The idea of a huge marketing effort, at this time, is inappropriate.

"Arrangements are being made for the next tourism season in the normal way, focusing on how to attract American tourists to this country.

"Indications for next year already suggest that a supreme effort is required. We know what has happened on previous occasions, when there have been difficulties in the United States. Other ways of marketing, with which the Government can assist, have been suggested, but tourist numbers will be down."

The Taoiseach was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, who asked if Mr Ahern was satisfied appropriate arrangements were in place for the promotion of Irish tourism in the US during "this time of crisis". He asked if Mr Ahern appreciated that there was a disaster on the west coast. "People are talking about mothballing hotels for the winter and not opening until the spring."

Mr Ahern asked if Mr Noonan was aware that 6,000 people in the US had been recently blown out of their offices.

"American people are not in the humour to travel to the west of Ireland, or anywhere else, even within the United States. We are trying to engage in a programme that will enable us to pick up on the mood when it changes."

Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) said the revulsion of ordinary Irish people was expressed to the American people on many occasions following the atrocities on September 11th.

He asked if Mr Ahern had conveyed to the US administration Ireland's revulsion at a further slaughter of innocent people in Afghanistan during the past eight days.

Mr Ahern said the people of Afghanistan were primarily victims of drought, civil war and the policies of the Taliban regime.