Madam, - Paul Cullen made some valid points in his article on Ireland's tourism identity crisis (August Days, August 12th).
Ireland needs to look at itself and decide what it is selling. This is not a budget destination. For €10 you can eat in a quality restaurant in an easily accessible European city such as Prague. Such a fact means that Ireland is never going to win the price battle. We should be selling the country for quality of experience - and it is in that realm where we have failed miserably too date.
After spending the past year travelling in New Zealand, here is what I believe that country is doing right in contrast to Ireland:
1. Promotion: Almost every major town has a tourist office service, be it privately or publicly operated. In Ireland it can be hard to find tourist offices, particularly if you are relying on signposts.
2. Walking and cycling: Well-maintained, easily accessible forest and mountain walkways and bike tracks are plentiful. In Ireland, try cycling the "Boyne Tourist Route" along the N3 and you will find it is a dangerous and foolhardy activity due to extremely bad road surfaces and crazy Irish drivers.
3. Insurance costs: Outdoor adventure activities are available everywhere in all shapes and sizes. The "compo" culture is strictly controlled so it is very hard to sue the state if your child falls and cuts their knee while participating in such activities. In Ireland, entrepreneurial zeal is dampened by the tendency of greedy Irish people to sue for the smallest of reasons. It is too expensive to provide new and adventurous activities due to high insurance costs.
4. Visitor-friendly facilities: Most towns have clean picnic areas and toilets. In Ireland try finding such facilities - does Dublin city centre actually have any public toilets?
5. Welcome ambassadors: When you land in New Zealand you automatically receive the official welcome magazine from the tourist authorities. In major cities such as Auckland, "welcome ambassadors" patrol the main streets answering tourists' queries.
6. Cleanliness: New Zealand is proud of its clean image. Following a long tradition in their culture, many New Zealanders walk in their bare feet when going about their daily business - something I have done myself along the main street of Auckland. In Ireland there is no chance of doing such a thing in O'Connell Street or in most Irish towns due to filth and dirt. Why do Irish people insist on throwing their rubbish on the streets?
Why should tourists visit an expensive, dirty and disorganised country, when plenty of competing countries around the world can offer a much better experience?- Yours, etc,
TERRY O'FLOINN, Clonmagaddan, Navan, Co Meath.