Madam, - A report in your edition of June 28th on the decline of tourism in the west restates for the ninth time the figures showing the catastrophic fall in the numbers of visiting walkers.
Unlike our European neighbours we have virtually no permanent legally protected trails, though we have superb mountain and coastal scenery. Walkers have no legal right to step on to private land, even rough mountain grazing. This is the core issue.
The need for legislative change is sidestepped by tourism interests, other organisations representing Irish recreational users, commercial walking concerns and Minister O'Cuiv's Comhairle na Tuaithe, which has been labouring for 18 months now without even bringing forth the proverbial mouse.
Until the intransigent farming lobby is tackled - and no one so far is showing the slightest courage to do so - we can kiss goodbye to what remains of walking tourism. - Yours, etc,
ROGER GARLAND, Chairman, Keep Ireland Open, Butterfield Drive, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.