ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE DISCOVER IRELAND HOLIDAY SHOW
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE DISCOVER IRELAND HOLIDAY SHOW IN THE DUBLIN TOURISM CENTRE, SUFFOLK ST
For a while, I couldn’t figure out why Frank McGee asked me to open this show. Then it dawned on me – having just been through an election campaign that saw me “discovering” or rediscovering Ireland in every sense of the word, I was probably best placed to talk about what it’s like to travel around Ireland at this time. Mind you, it was more like a busman’s holiday than a break or a rest. But discover Ireland I did, and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Of late, we certainly hear an awful lot about “Celtic Tigers” - and I promise I won’t mention that again this evening – but that name brings up connotations of wild-life, of wilderness and an Ireland that has a particular attraction for a lot of people who are looking for short breaks – just to get away from it all for a few days.
For most people, a break is a chance to re-charge the batteries and to take time out to be with family or friends or importantly to make friends. And there’s no better place on earth than Ireland to do that! Indeed, many of the foreign visitors that come here, go back with great accounts of their visits. This morning, for instance, I had a group of Japanese students, one of whom was here for the 3rd time and one who came on the recommendation of his brother, who had been very impressed with his story here. These type of visitors are the ambassadors of the tourism industry. And ambassadorship for tourism is perhaps its greatest promotional tool. With the great developments in the leisure field – in hotels, guest houses, leisure centres and other amenities – we have created the ideal environment with a good cultural mix.
But Ireland isn’t just about landscape – it’s about people, where they live and what they do – it’s about our cultures and traditions. In the tremendous efforts of agencies like the IDA or An Bord Trachtála and, indeed, Bord Fáilte one of their great selling points in attracting people to visti, to do business or to set up an operation here, is the “Irish experience”. It has, as I said, to do with our environment, our landscape, our people – all those elements that make up our quality of life. The tourism industry revolves around that unique “experience” that has been at the heart of our recent successes. The tourism industry is also the keeper or custodian of that unique “experience” which is sought out be many foreign visitors. In working with the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation on the “Regional Tourism Marketing Initiative” you are putting the resources of the industry and the Government to the best possible use in marketing a product which has great domestic and overseas appeal. It is an experience that we can share amongst ourselves as well. Indeed for those who live in Dublin and the surrounding areas – those whom this show is primarily directed – you are offering the chance to get away from the humdrum of city life - to share in that “experience”.
In declaring the “Discover Ireland Holiday Show” open, I wish you all well show and for a very successful tourist season in 1998.