Galway Advertiser 1991/1991_01_24/GA_24011991_E1_001.pdf 

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_ Galiuery AOvertiser
V F P ) Approved--Awaiting First Certificate July-Dec. 1990
Vol.22 No. 4 Thursday, 24th January, 1991

T U IM K O K O T OR S NC U
The American tourist market is expected to fall by a staggering 75 per cent locally because of the Gulf War.
Mrs. Vera Feeney, Secretary, Galway B r a n c h , Town a n d C o u n t r y Homes claims little o r n o bookings h a v e been received from t h e States since the crisis e r u p t e d . " B y now, we normal ly have quite a number of bookings for the April/May/June period. But this year the market is completely dead. The Americans don't want to make p l a n s . " She does not expect an improvement. " I t looks bleak for the early part of the year. Yesterday, we met branch members in Connemara and they also reported no movement."

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Art Prizes 8 & 10 Mary O'Connor 11 Old Galway 12 'Sweet Success' 16 Comment/Letters 18-19 Sport 4547

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on the American market for the early season, accor ding to Mrs Feeney from Spiddal. "Financially, the loss of the American market will effect not only the accom modation sector but car hire firms and craft shops too. Americans are really our biggest s p e n d e r s . " She says her organisa tion, together with Bord Failte, will launch a high powered marketing drive in the States next month. Meanwhile Galway branch representative, Mary Mc Loughlin had talks yesterday with the N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e of Town and Country Homes to discuss the fall off in tourists.

DROP CONSIDERABLY
M r . Sean S t a u n t o n , Chairman, Ireland West Tourism says it is too ear ly t o m a k e gloomy predictions.

Appointments Deecisions Property Classifieds

20 22 30-33 3444

AMERICAN MARKET
Most of The Town and Country Homes' 148 Galway members depend

" A real fear exists about the American tourist market but it is too early to say if numbers will drop considerably. " I f hostilities continue, one will have to be con cerned about the effects locally." If the market drops, Mr. Staunton says Ireland West may concentrate more on promoting the West to British and European visitors. M r . Declan C o n r o y , Public Relations Officer, Aer Lingus, Shannon Air port says traditionally Americans do not travel during war. " T h e r e is a shortfall in bookings for the cor responding p e r i o d last year. The recession could also be a factor in this. " I f the war continues, it won't do the tourist in dustry any f a v o u r s . " Mary O' Connor

MALACHY BOURKE of Moycullen, with his pet ferret, signing the peace petition against War in the Guff on Saturday.

NEUTRAL RADIO

Entertainment 23-27

Galway Bay FM have made no changes to the musk content of their programmes, in the wake of the allied forces offensive in the Gulf.
H o w e v e r , executives from Ireland's two National music stations, 2FM and Century, have compiled a

list of 67 pop records they felt were "unsuitable." " W e have received n o , objections from the public about our choice of music since the war broke out. If we were getting complaints we would certainly con sider i t , " said a spokesper son for Galway Bay F . M .

FURTHER REDUCTIONS AT FALLERS CHINA/CRYSTAL

LOCAL MUSLIM LEADER CONDEMNS U.S.
The Galway leader of the Ahmadiyya Islamic Movement Mr. Rashid Ahmed has condemn ed U.S. and Western interference in the Gulf. "On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Movement, I strongly oppose Western interference in the affairs of Muslim countries. This was a Muslim issue and it should have been settled by the Muslim countries themselves".
Mr. Rashid says that, while the Ahmadiyya Movement opposes Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, he believes President Bush left Saddam Hussein no room to manoeuvere. "Bush said no compromise, no negotiations, just " G e t out of Kuwait!". They offered him nothing. This is all wrong. When you want to convince someone, you must talk, talk, and talk some more . " I am entirely convinc ed this war is not about protecting Kuwait, it is a b o u t oil a n d a b o u t supremacy in the Gulf of Western interests". Mr. Rashid also d e t e c t s a disturbing "DoubleStandard" in the Western approach to the problems of the Middle East. " B u s h said " N o linkage" with the Palestinian question. But this is also an example of a people who have been wronged, like the Kuwaitis. Yet nothing is done about t h i s " . Mr. Rashid continues: " T h e West says Saddam Hussein is a wicked man. Maybe be is as bad as he is protrayed in the Western newspapers. But he was just as bad when he attack ed Iran. And w h o sup ported him? W h o armed him? The United States and other Western countries. And why? Because it was in their interests to support him t h e n " . Mr. Rashid feels the U . S . never had any inten tion of pursuing a solution through sanctions. " F i r s t of all, the armies were there to protect the Saudis. Then they were to be sent in to recover Kuwait. Now they are talk ing about destroying Iraq and bringing Saddam to trial. W e must just hope and pray that this war will end soon and the armies will leave the M i d d l e East".

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