Tourism plan puts Shannon stopover at risk
But, most importantly, it is to the beautiful and rugged west of Ireland that I go. I have no interest in flying into Dublin as I feel it is like most national capitals I have visited over the years once you have seen it, you have seen it. So it is to Shannon that my friends and I go, as it is closer to our respective destinations.
Another factor is that many people here in the southwest United States (I live in San Antonio, Texas) are from or have roots in the west of Ireland.
It has been my knowledge from flying with Delta Airlines over the years that over 90% of the passengers bound for Ireland get off at Shannon. I fly Delta because the flights from my home to Atlanta and return get me home at a decent hour.
There are over 90 million people in the southwest and southeast of the United States with no direct access to Ireland. For example, Houston, Texas, is headquarters hub to Continental Airlines but Continental isn't interested in a flight to Ireland from Texas, which would take in most of the major growth states in the US and would allow those of us who would go to Ireland more frequently to do so without having the big travel production that we do now.
From our region, there are non-stop flights to Britain. But that isn't Ireland!
There is much goodwill for Ireland here in the southwest but it seems that Irish tourism interests prefer to preach to the choir that is New York, Chicago, Boston and the eastern seaboard instead of attempting to conquer virgin territory, as it were.
If Shannon is removed as an airport of choice then our lifeline to the west of Ireland is cut not only from a tourism perspective but also business. Think about that!
Joan Moody,
President,
Moody Marketing,
5747, Spring Moon,
San Antonio,
Texas 78247,
USA
