asked the Minister for Communications his plans to stimulate employment growth in the tourist industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Development of Tourist Industry.
14.
The Government fully recognise the potential of the tourism industry as a major source of employment. Prior to taking office the Government published a comprehensive document —Putting Growth Back Into Tourism— which details the Government's strategy for developing the tourist industry. Central to this strategy will be a more co-ordinated and effective approach to promotional expenditure and exploitation of recent favourable developments in the cost of air and sea access to Ireland. A more forceful marketing stance will be adopted in those markets offering the best potential for development, with emphasis on the targeting of specialist groups in particular areas of activity such as angling and golfing and also conference related business.
We also recognise the urgent need for investment in the further development of tourist products, particularly those activity holidays which I have mentioned, and one of the proposals in our document under active consideration is the extension of the business expansion scheme to export tourism. The establishment of the Department of Tourism and Transport, bringing together responsibility for our access transport arrangements and for the development of the tourist industry, is designed to provide a new impetus to tourism growth. In formulating plans to stimulate such growth I will have the benefit of the study of the effectiveness of all directly tourism-related public expenditure commissioned from a firm of international consultants, whose report I expect to receive by mid-May.