Madam, - David Herman's article in last Saturday's Weekend Review, together with Paul Hudson's letter in the same edition, shows how little has been done to resolve countryside access problems.
In February 2003, Bord Fáilte published its "Strategic Development Plan for Ireland's Walking Product". The introduction stated: "Walking is currently the most popular activity for Ireland's overseas tourists, with over a quarter million participating annually." It added: "Responsible State agencies and the private sector, working together, have developed a generally acceptable product, but visitor feedback suggests there is room for improvement, if it is to reach top international standards."
Under "Current Problems" Bord Fáilte noted that access has become the most critical issue affecting the development of recreational walking. "Immediate remedial action is required. Remedial action, however, will only be successful when partnership principles are adhered to, when the rights of every participant are recognised and respected, and when there are no hidden agendas, but a sincere across the board willingness to reach a positive conclusion."
The spring 2003 edition of Heritage Outlook, the Heritage Council's magazine, stated: "Our landscape is suffering due to farmers, planners, forestry and tourism bodies working in isolation as opposed to working with each other."
During a recent press trip to Austria's Dachstein Alps, the Mayor of Ramsau, a farmer and local tourism chief, explained how, after the second World War, the area's countryside was left financially bereft. Local farmers, realising the value of the exquisite scenery and the sports potential of the nearby mountains, decided that as well as milking cows, they should milk tourists. Following progressive Government encouragement, tourism in Austria's countryside secures thousands of jobs (many of them for farmers) and besides the export industry, this is the most important factor in Austria's balance of trade. Austria hosts more tourists each year than Greece and Turkey together.
Co-operation is essential to solve the Irish problem of access, but the financial lead must come from Government. Perhaps a small start might be Fáilte Ireland flying a couple of plane-loads of IFA and ICSA farmers to the Alps just to see how prosperous they could be by joining in with tourism instead of sometimes reacting against it. Such a course would be more profitable for the farmers, their families, and the State than sending Irish travel agents to Hawaii to sell overpriced Irish five-star hotels.
In 2002, the Scottish hill walking and climbing tourism market was worth £400 million sterling. What will ours be worth in the future? - Yours, etc.,
CHRIS AVISON, Upper Churchtown Road, Dublin 14.