A chara, - Frank McDonald's series "The Trouble with Tourism", particularly the last article entitled "Time to end `traditional' and be distinctively Irish" (The Irish Times, August 21st) was a timely feature at the end of a disastrous tourist season.
The dismembering of Bord Failte in recent years so that it could focus on selling Ireland abroad has meant that there is no agency focusing specifically on product development within the industry.
Many tourists come here because Ireland is perceived as being different. Our cultural and environmental uniqueness can be our strength; we can capitalise on resources that we have naturally, be they archaeology, music, language, traditional crafts, vegetation and other environmental assets (including golf, fishing, cycling, walking, etc.).
By defining our tourism product as the creative use of our indigenous resources in a caring, protective manner, we will not only attract a quality tourist who is genuinely interested in what we have to offer, but should also reinforce our own self-belief in the range of riches that we possess.
Mr McDaid has already proven himself to be a man who is prepared to challenge the status quo; he can now make a move in the right direction by having a Bord Failte board which is representative of all sectors of tourism. Niche tourism producers such as Cycling Safaris, Oideas Gael and Connemara Walking Tours promote environmental and cultural holidays successfully, but are neither seen nor heard in the tourism boardrooms of Dublin.
It is our Irishness which makes us attractive as a tourism destination but it is the retention and maintenance of that which will prove challenging; the double-edged sword of tourism needs deft handling if we are to avoid the destruction of our culture and environment. - Is mise, Liam O Cuinneagain,
Oideas Gael,
Gleann Cholm Cille,
Co Dhun na nGall.