David Andrews
Question:1 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade policy of his Department regarding joint tourism marketing for all Ireland in the United Kingdom market. [14104/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Joint Tourism Marketing.
I am very much committed to the concept of joint marketing of Irish tourism not only in Britain but in other markets as well. There has been significant cross-Border co-operation in the British market in recent years, including, in particular, an all-Ireland tourist information desk at the British Travel Centre in London.
An exciting development this year has been the involvement of the Northern Ireland tourism industry in the Overseas Tourism Marketing Initiative, OTMI. All the tourism interests on the island, both public and private sector, have come together in a £6 million partnership campaign to promote Ireland as a single destination in our four main markets: the US, Britain, Germany and France.
In Britain the OTMI campaign involves an additional £2 million spend on consumer advertising on TV and in newspapers which highlights the island of Ireland as an attractive holiday destination for British visitors. Included for the first time is a major campaign to attract more British visitors to this island in the off-season. I have no doubt that tourism in both parts of the island will benefit hugely from co-operative marketing activity. The prospects from the British market are particularly good with British visitors up 11 per cent in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 1994.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and I have no doubt the facts are accurate. Is it fair to say that the focus of Bord Fáilte is on marketing while the focus of the NITB is on accommodation? It has been admitted that the level of accommodation in the North has not caught up with the demand from the huge influx of tourists this year arising from the peace process and other factors. The general perception is that Bord Fáilte is in the process of reorganising and there is a lack of finance. Does the Minister agree that this is causing a delay in bringing about what he and I want, that is a common tourism strategy for the entire island of Ireland?
Deputy Andrews is aware of the difficulties experienced by the general tourism industry, particularly in the North, over the past 25 years. While the tourism industry in the Twenty-six Counties went about its business as best it could in the promotion of Ireland internationally there was a lack of co-operation between the Northern Ireland Tourism Board and Bord Fáilte for many years. The peace process had a dramatic effect in changing the position and there is now a great deal of co-operation between the two bodies. Obviously the increase in the number of people visiting Northern Ireland as a tourism destination and from a curiosity point of view has led to a focus on accommodation. The island has benefited from the increased number of visitors North and South. I do not agree with loose talk in some quarters that the changes in Bord Fáilte are detrimental to the organisation or that its efforts will be hampered by a lack of money.
The people from whom I received my information are not guilty of loose talk, they have a deep and serious interest in the organisation and tourism industry and wish to improve the position.
On the question of finance and the peace process, finance still remains to be paid under the peace initiative and INTERREG. How soon after the talks begin and the other matters resolved will the funding be made available?
I have made a number of announcements about INTERREG funding. If the Deputy is interested in certain elements of that fund I will be very happy to supply him with the relevent information. If he wishes, I will be happy to meet the people to whom he referred and who have a genuine interest in the development of tourism; we are also serious players.
I realise that but one of the problems is that these people spoke to me after they spoke to the Minister. Nevertheless, we are both satisfied that they have an interest in tourism. Will the Minister say when a unified tourism structure will be put in place?
Is the Deputy talking about unification between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Bord Fáilte so that we have a single marketing entity?
Absolutely.
I cannot give the Deputy any such guarantee but there is close co-operation between both bodies in marketing Ireland. At the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation the late Senator Gordon Wilson said that never again should a brochure on the tourism industry in Ireland be published with a blank space depicting the north-eastern corner, and this will no longer be the case. There is now a good working relationship between the two bodies and a function in Warrenpoint last Friday was attended by representatives of a range of political parties from the North and South. The working relationship between both bodies was very much accepted and I hope to build on this.
The Minister will be aware of the headline in the Irish News on 29 September last arising out of his visit to Warrenpoint. I commend him for going to Warrenpoint but the headline——
Demonstrations or quotations are not in order at this time.
I will keep the paper close to my chest. It states: "Minister slates Trimble", "UUP Leader is ill-informed says Kenny"——
I said quotations are not in order and I expect to be obeyed.
May I paraphrase the quotation?
I hope the Deputy will not seek to circumvent the ruling of the Chair.
Arising out of the Minister's visit to Warrenpoint, a leading hotelier, Mr. Billy Hastings, has called for what I have been calling for since I became Opposition spokes-person on Tourism and Trade, the creation of a single body to promote tourism in Ireland. We are all full of good intentions and I am as anxious as the Minister that the tourism industry works well and effectively. I believe there is too much bureaucracy and duplication.
This is leading to debate and argument which is not appropriate at this time.
While we want co-operation, two separate organisations selling Ireland will involve a major loss of finance, personal commitment and input.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion in this matter. The economic benefits of tourism North and South were so evident that it was not mentioned specifically in the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The Deputy should consider the partnership that exists in the overseas tourism marketing initiative where Northern Ireland executives sit on the committee with Bord Fáilte executives in an all-Ireland sense and that £6.3 million is being spent by the EU, the Department, Bord Fáilte, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the private sector on marketing the island of Ireland this year on our four main markets. That is the type of development that will ensure that a single marketing entity will eventually evolve from such co-operative work.
And the Minister is pressing for that.
Yes.
The Minister's name will go down in history. It is there already.
Deputy Andrews has gone down in history already.
For the right reasons.