Vol. 462 No. 2
39 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, being taken to plan for the continuation of financial support for marketing and product development when the current operation programme for tourism expires in 1999. [4349/96]
Formal planning for the needs, financial and otherwise, of the tourism sector is an ongoing process within my Department and inherent in that process is the monitoring of the impact of the current major instrument for the development of the tourism industry — the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999.
A principal objective of this programme is to secure the active participation of the industry in successfully developing and marketing their operations. Support under the programme has for example been made available to stimulate additional and increased marketing activity so as to ensure that Irish tourism develops on a self-sustainable basis in the future.
While tourism promotion is always likely to require some ongoing support in order to sustain growth in tourist numbers and revenue, a careful review of developments over the period of the current and previous operational programme; their impact on the level and quality of tourism facilities in this country; and on tourism operations, will be necessary before any considered views can be reached on future development needs and priorities. The precise extent to which the tourism industry may or may not require support will to a large extent be determined by the impact and achievement of the measures under the present operational programme.
