Irish told to welcome visitors with a smile

Irish tourism bosses are worried that the country's warm welcome is wearing a bit thin as a result of the greater prosperity generated by the country's Celtic Tiger economy.

The Irish were so worried about the possibility that they commissioned a special survey to discover why British visitors were staying away, after a surprise drop in the numbers in 1999 for the first time in many years.

Now the consultants have reported that one of the main reasons for the fall in British visitors is a perception among UK holidaymakers that the traditional sense of Irish hospitality and friendliness is declining. The finding is causing concern in the Irish industry, given that British tourists spend nearly £1b a year in Ireland.

One Bord Failte executive claimed it demonstrated that "there is a problem with Ireland of the welcomes". The survey finding echoes a recent warning by the regional manager of the Cork/Kerry tourist area, Con O'Conaill, that some tourists were complaining about a less-than-traditional Irish welcome.

He recommended that staff be encouraged "to chat and smile" when dealing with visitors. "The welcoming smile is one of our core values in this business and if we lose it, we'll lose visitors," he said.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 1-7 March 2001