Irish ferry companies benefit from the recession and good weather but business is down for airlines.
In 1983, one and a quarter million Irish people travelled abroad on holiday spending a record £379 million. As a recession kicks in, that level of travel is unlikely to be seen this year.
George Higgins, general manager at Sealink, is more optimistic about tourism for this year. Inclusive tour packages from Ireland are doing very well as a result of early marketing, promotion and competitive fares. Sealink has seen a 20 per cent rise in bookings over the previous year.
Despite all the gloom and despondency, Sealink are having a very good year.
George Higgins says the demand for inward travel to Ireland is up even more than outward travel.
Susan Donovan of Irish Continental Line says the economic downturn and the sunshine at home in Ireland have combined to cause a decrease in demand for their outbound services with bookings down approximately six per cent on the same period last year. In terms of incoming traffic, bookings are much more buoyant with figures up 20 per cent on last year.
Norman Newton of B&I, says there was an impact from the recession in the early part of the year but. business is up over the summer months and bookings are slightly up on last year. For B&I passenger ferry services the recession has proven to be an ally as people seek out more economic ways to travel.
The summer weather is a good boost for business because people look to the value that is available closer to home.
While the ferry companies are doing well considering the recession, the airline industry is not. Gerry Armstrong, spokesperson for Irish Tour Operators, outlines the difficulties owing to the drop in demand for holidays abroad. He says that the demand is not there for the number of seats that were made available.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 August 1984. The reporter is Michael O'Brien.
