Michael Woods
Question:61 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department and Bord Fáilte to develop golf tourism. [10785/95]
Written Answers. - Golf Tourism.
David Andrews
Question:189 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department and Bord Fáilte to develop golf tourism. [11024/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 189 together.
Golf has become one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in Ireland over the past number of years. In this context the development and promotion of golf tourism has been a major product success and this has resulted in an increasing number of overseas holiday-makers playing golf in Ireland. Numbers have risen from 95,000 in 1989 to over 170,000 in 1994.
Because of the unprecedented investment in our golfing product since 1989 Ireland now has a considerable number of golf courses. Accordingly, under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, only a small amount of funds are being made available, on an exceptional basis, to assist the development of a limited number of new championship courses in remote areas where they could become the catalyst to encourage tourism development. The provision or improvement of visitor and learner facilities in Bord Fáilte branded courses, which have not received assistance for such improvements under the last operational programme, will also be supported.
The emphasis now is on attracting more golfing visitors to Ireland through marketing the superb asset that has been created on the basis of quality, value for money, accessibility, and a friendly welcome. Bord Fáilte has in place an extensive calendar of promotions and advertising in our three major markets through for example, exposure on international media, campaigns placed in international golfing publications, and posters advertising Ireland's golfing product in international markets. I have also, in order to maximise key TV publicity, allocated funds through Bord Fáilte to support a number of major televised events, such as the Guardian Irish Holidays Open, which I announced yesterday. This will ensure that Ireland's superb golf product is kept before world audiences. The value of such international exposure is immense as regards attracting golfing visitors to Ireland, and all of these efforts together should ensure that golf tourism will continue to flourish in the future.