Extracts from a letter from Thomas J. Kiernan to Sean Lester (Dublin)
(55a/25)

In reply to your letter of 20th February,¹ 1925, I am to state that in the High Commissioner's opinion a good deal could be done here to promote tourist traffic in Ireland, but the methods proposed by the Irish Tourist Association seem to be inadequate.

The Tourist Agencies here are, generally speaking, not interested in sending tourists to Ireland. I think they find it directly profitable to commend Gleneagles, Strathpeffer, etc. Unless they have recently changed they prefer to send people elsewhere than to Ireland. Having heard complaints of this last year, a few visits were made to agency offices by members of this office staff, who inquired as potential tourists. In two of the cases the advice to those intending to travel to Ireland was an unqualified 'Don't'. There would be many more tourists to Ireland if travellers, especially from the U.S.A. and the Overseas Dominions, could obtain full information, book tickets, and reserve hotel accommodation through an Irish Tourist Agency. Space could be provided in this office for such an agency.

It would certainly be possible to arrange for the display of posters and leaflets inside the office and, with an addition of one to the personnel of the staff, to give information to inquiries. It is not known just what is meant by the fullest possible information about hotels, tariffs, etc. Presumably there would be a plan of each hotel, and a full list of charges, including the charge for each bedroom. If, however, a public servant is to give this information he should not, the High Commissioner thinks, be expected to express any opinion about the cleanliness or comfort of the accommodation or the efficiency of the service, unless his statements can be based on authoritative information. Furthermore, if a number of travellers who obtain information from this office later express their dissatisfaction with their treatment at any particular hotel, there must either be a reliable method of removing the cause of complaint or subsequent inquirers must be informed that dissatisfaction has been expressed. A public servant cannot for the pecuniary benefit of any person or body misstate or conceal facts from inquirers who are obviously entitled to get from him full and truthful replies to questions.

[Matter omitted]

The proposals as communicated suggest methods by which those financially benefiting by the tourist traffic could secure advantages at the taxpayer's expense, while there seems to be no guarantee that the public outlay will benefit anyone else, or that one of the main obstacles, if not actually the greatest, to the development of the tourist traffic will be removed. That obstacle is the dearness and discomfort of Irish hotels.

The High Commissioner thinks that help might perhaps be given by allowing a Tourist Agency to occupy a part of the premises at a nominal rent. If someone is employed to specialise in information about hotels, sailings, etc., the cost should be borne by the Tourist Association. If arrangements are made for the issue of tickets, doubtless a set-off would be made as regards the amount of any commission levied. The High Commissioner, through his Secretary, could, if desired, exercise effective control over any person who was formally or legally the servant of the Association.

[Matter omitted]

It is believed that the Department of Industry and Commerce are directly interested in promoting tourist traffic and in removing the obstacles to its development. You may think it well to let them have a copy of this letter.