The "best case" scenario for Ireland's tourism industry in the coming year is that it will recover half of this year's loss in visitor numbers, the industry's representative organisation has said.
Up to 10,000 jobs were threatened if recovery did not come quickly, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation said in its end-of-year statement.
It said projected results for this year would leave tourism 13 per cent behind targets.
"The combination of the catastrophic events experienced this year - the foot-and-mouth crisis and the atrocities in America on September 11th - have had a fundamental impact on tourism," said Mr Tony Kelly, chairman of the ITIC.
Though industry suffered a drop of 8 per cent nationally this year, particular areas and organisations suffered losses of between 20 and 40 per cent. Those worst hit were rural areas and those dependent on facilities closed during the foot-and-mouth crisis. "These losses have serious implications nationally and are estimated to put up to 10,000 jobs at risk if recovery does not come quickly," Mr Kelly said.
With air capacity to and from Ireland down by some 20 per cent, addressing the issues would require the securing of all remaining north Atlantic services; maintaining the current route structure between Ireland and Britain; encouraging the expansion of low-cost access and increasing the promotion of available capacity on sea routes, he said.
Mr Kelly stressed, however, that growth from other markets would not compensate for the loss of American visitors. It was "vital" therefore that "we keep our share" of these visitors. "While accounting for only 15 per cent of Ireland's visitors in 2000, the US provided 23 per cent of our tourism revenue," he said.
Bord Fβilte, in its Summary Of Activities 2002, said it hopes to increase the number of home holidays taken by Irish people by 5 per cent this year. It also intends encouraging people to add a few days to their weekend breaks.
